Countryside Management Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Regulation 3(2)(a)

SCHEDULE 1 GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

1.  The applicant shall –

(a) comply with the Good Farming Practice with regard to the Environment(1), published by the Department;

(b) retain and not damage any habitat, landscape or water feature, or archaeological or heritage feature;

(c) retain existing field boundaries and not remove any hedge, tree, copse, scrub, ditch, dyke or wall or any part thereof, except with the prior written permission of the Department;

(d) maintain open drains and sheughs in accordance with the written advice of the Department;

(e) keep the eligible land free from rubbish and litter;

(f) seek the permission of the Department before undertaking work which may have a detrimental impact on any habitat, landscape feature or archaeological or heritage feature; and

(g) comply with management plans provided by the Department for field boundaries, farm waste and each of the habitats specified in the agreement.

2.  The applicant shall not –

(a) undertake ploughing, levelling or reseeding of unimproved land, or any semi-natural grassland;

(b) apply any herbicide, pesticide, fungicide or insecticide on any land other than improved land except spot treatment or weed wiper application of herbicide for control of noxious weeds;

(c) undertake any land reclamation or install new underdrainage or substantially modify the existing drainage system;

(d) apply lime to any habitat other than improved land unless with prior written approval of the Department;

(e) cause severe damage to vegetation by poaching or repeated vehicular access, (including all terrain vehicles) nor graze land with livestock in such numbers as adversely to affect the growth quality or species composition of vegetation (other than vegetation normally grazed to destruction) to a significant degree;

(f) carry out any activity or deposit on, or extract from the land, any article, material or substance in a manner likely to detract significantly from the natural beauty of the land or damage or destroy flora and fauna or materially alter the geological or physiographical features of the land; or

(g) realign, dredge or dam any watercourse nor alter the water levels within any existing water feature without the prior agreement of the Department.

3.  The applicant shall during the first 5 years of an undertaking participate in a training programme approved by the Department designed to develop competencies necessary to the delivery of his obligations.

Regulations 3(4)(a) and 7(1)

SCHEDULE 2 WHOLE FARM PAYMENT

Column 1	Column 2
Activity	Maximum Payment Rate
1.  In relation to the whole farm –
(a) field boundary management;	£10 per hectare per annum for the first 100 hectares and £2·50 per hectare thereafter.
(b) farm waste management.	£10 per hectare per annum for the first 100 hectares and £2·50 per hectare thereafter.

Regulations 3(4)(b) and 7(1)

SCHEDULE 3 MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES (HABITATS)

Column 1	Column 2
Activity	Maximum Payment Rate
1.  In relation to unimproved land –
(a) management of unimproved land of 100 hectares or less;	£50 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of unimproved land over 100 hectares and less than and including 200 hectares;	£25 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of unimproved land over 200 hectares.	£10 per hectare per annum.
2.  In relation to species rich grassland –
(a) management of species rich hay meadows;	£170 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of species rich grassland where there is restricted grazing period;	£155 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of species rich grassland where there is a closed grazing period.	£155 per hectare per annum.
3.  In relation to wetlands –
management of fen, swamp and reed beds.	£90 per hectare per annum.
4.  In relation to breeding wader sites –
(a) management of breeding wader sites where there is a restricted grazing period;	£80 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of breeding wader sites where there is a closed grazing period;	£130 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of improved land for breeding lapwing;	£180 per hectare per annum.
(d) management of unimproved land for breeding lapwing;	£150 per hectare per annum.
(e) management of fallow plots for breeding lapwing.	£325 per hectare per annum.
5.  In relation to moorland –
(a) management of heather moorland of 50 hectares or less;	£45 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of heather moorland over 50 hectares up to and including 100 hectares;	£25 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of heather moorland of over 100 hectares;	£10 per hectare per annum.
(d) management of rough moorland grazing of 50 hectares or less;	£35 per hectare per annum.
(e) management of rough moorland grazing over 50 hectares up to and including 100 hectares;	£20 per hectare per annum.
(f) management of rough moorland grazing of more than 100 hectares;	£10 per hectare per annum.
6.  In relation to lowland raised bogs –
(a) management of lowland raised bog of 50 hectares or less;	£45 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of lowland raised bog of over 50 hectares up to and including 100 hectares;	£25 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of lowland raised bog over 100 hectares.	£10 per hectare per annum.
7.  In relation to broadleaved farm woodland and farm scrub –
(a) management of broadleaved farm woodland and farm scrub of 10 hectares or less where there is a restricted grazing period;	£85 per hectare per annum
(b) management of broadleaved farm woodland and farm scrub over 10 hectares up to and including 20 hectares where there is a restricted grazing period;	£40 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of broadleaved farm woodland and farm scrub over 20 hectares where there is a restricted grazing period;	£20 per hectare per annum.
(d) management of broadleaved farm woodland of 10 hectares or less where these is a closed grazing period;	£115 per hectare per annum.
(e) management of broadleaved farm woodland over 10 hectares up to and including 20 hectares where there is a closed grazing period;	£60 per hectare per annum.
(f) management of broadleaved farm woodland over 20 hectares where there is a closed grazing period.	£30 per hectare per annum.
8.  In relation to archaeological features –
management of archaeological features.	£300 per hectare per annum for the first 2 hectares, £150 per hectare per annum for the next 1 hectare and £50 per hectare thereafter.
9.  In relation to parkland –
(a) management of parkland of 100 hectares or less;	£65 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of parkland over 100 hectares up to and including 200 hectares;	£30 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of parkland over 200 hectares.	£10 per hectare per annum.

Regulations 3(4)(c) and 7(1)

SCHEDULE 4 MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES (OPTIONAL HABITATS)

Column 1	Column 2
Activity	Maximum Payment Rate
1.  In relation to arable lands managed for wildlife –
(a) retention of winter stubble;	£80 per hectare per annum.
(b) undersown cereals;	£75 per hectare per annum.
(c) establishment of a conservation cereal;	£115 per hectare per annum.
(d) establishment of wild bird cover crop;	£510 per hectare per annum.
(e) creation of a rough grass field margin.	£330 per hectare per annum.
2.  In relation to winter feeding sites for migratory swans and geese –
(a) management of improved land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese of 5 hectares of less;	£120 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of improved land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese over 5 hectares and up to and including 25 hectares;	£60 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of improved land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese over 25 hectares;	£30 per hectare per annum.
(d) management of arable land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese of 5 hectares or less;	£205 per hectare per annum.
(e) management of arable land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese over 5 hectares and up to and including 25 hectares;	£100 per hectare per annum.
(f) management of arable land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese over 25 hectares.	£50 per hectare per annum.
3.  In relation to traditional orchards –
restoration of traditional orchards.	£370 per hectare per annum.
4.  In relation to grass margins –
(a) management of a grass margin on unimproved or improved land where grazing is not permissible;	£420 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of a grass margin on unimproved or improved land, where there is provision of native trees for areas less than 0.2 hectares.	£1110 per hectare per annum.
5.  In relation to heather regeneration –
(a) burning of heather;	£100 per hectare per annum.
(b) flailing of heather.	£50 per hectare per annum.
6.  In relation to bracken –
(a) control of bracken by tractor spraying;	£140 per hectare per annum.
(b) control of bracken by knapsack spraying.	£260 per hectare per annum.
7.  In relation to restoration of field boundaries –
restoring 1 metre of field boundary per hectare per year.	£10 per hectare per annum.

Regulations 3(4)(d) and 7(1), (2) and (3)

SCHEDULE 5 CAPITAL ACTIVITIES

Column 1	Column 2
Activity	Maximum Payment Rate
1.  Field boundaries –
(a) restoration of drystone wall –
(i) double skinned;	£17 per square metre run.
(ii) single skinned.	£10 per square metre run.
(b) hedge restoration –
(i) laying;	£3·10 per square metre run.
(ii) coppicing;	£1·40 per square metre run.
(iii) interplanting/reinstatement.	£3·30 per square metre run.
(c) reinstating sod banks.	£3·30 per square metre run.
2.  Items to enhance wildlife value –
(a) installation of nest boxes;	£6·00 per small nest box. £8·00 per large nest box.
(b) installation of bat boxes;	£6·00 per box.
(c) installation of red squirrel feeders.	£42·00 per feeder.
3.  Tree planting/management –
(a) tree/shrub planting;	£0·70 per plant.
(b) installation of tree guard and stake;	£0·90 per tree guard and stake.
(c) installation of spiral rabbit guard;	£0·60 per guard.
(d) planting standard parkland trees;	£13·00 per tree.
(e) planting traditional fruit trees;	£13·00 per tree.
(f) tree surgery;	60% of cost approved by the Department.
(g) pollarding.	60% of cost approved by the Department.
4.  Orchards –
restorative pruning.	60% of cost approved by the Department.
5.  Structures/work to raise water levels.	60% of cost approved by the Department.
6.  Creation of scrapes.	£1·40 per square metre surface area (to maximum of 100m2).
7.  Provision of plastic recycling bin.	60% of cost approved by the Department.
8.  Provision of alternative watering sites –
(a) installation of trough;	£34·00 per trough.
(b) installation of up to 150 metres of pipeline;	£1·00 per metre.
(c) installation of over 150 metres of pipeline.	£0·90 per metre.
9.  Restoration of traditional and heritage features –
(a) restoration of traditional farm buildings;	60% of cost approved by the Department.
(b) restoration of features of historical interest;	60% of cost approved by the Department.
(c) restoration of traditional gates.	£30·00 per metre (wooden) £54·00 per metre (metal) £36·00 per metre (composite)
(d) restoration of traditional pillars and posts –
(i) rebuilding pillar;	£133·00 per pillar.
(ii) rebuilding pillar cap;	£28·00 per pillar cap.
(iii) repointing pillar cap;	£34·00 per pillar cap.
(iv) replastering pillar cap;	£28·00 per pillar cap.
(v) provision of wooden post;	£18·00 per post.
(vi) provision of stone post.	£68.00 per post.
10.  Erection of protective fencing –
(a) 3 line strained wire;	£1·40 per metre.
(b) additional line wire;	£0·20 per metre.
(c) woven wire and 2 lines of wire;	£1·50 per metre.
(d) woven wire and 3 lines wire;	£1·70 per metre.
(e) proofing against rabbits and hares;	£1·10 per metre.
(f) protection for planting parkland trees.	£59·00 (1.8m square) per guard. £97·00 (3.6m triangular) per guard. £118·00 (3.6m square) per guard.

SCHEDULE 6 INTERPRETATION OF SCHEDULES

In Schedules 1 to 5 and this Schedule –

“arable land” means land on which cereal or other arable crops are grown;

“archaeological features” means all extant historical and archaeological sites which have been identified by the Department of the Environment in the Sites and Monuments Record;

“Area of Special Scientific Interest” means an area of land declared to be an area of special scientific interest under Part IV of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985(2);

“bat box” means a box for bats to replace the natural location lost through changes in farming practice;

“breeding wader sites” means sites used by breeding waders;

“broadleaved farm woodland” means vegetation dominated by a minimum of 50% cover broadleaf native trees, containing a minimum of 80% native species;

“closed grazing period” means a time period when grazing of livestock is not permitted by or under any statutory provisions;

“fallow plot” means a plot of arable ground that is ploughed in spring or autumn and not sown with any crop;

“fen” means an area which is waterlogged and flooded in the winter and remains damp in the summer with a vegetation characterised by the absence of terrestrial plants;

“field boundaries” means hedgerows, sod banks, or dry stone walls and associated features;

“grass margin” means a strip of unfertilised land between 2 and 25 metres wide adjacent to an Area of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserve, Natura 2000 site, watercourse or woodland or between 2 and 6 metres wide adjacent to a field boundary;

“habitat” means the normal abode or locality of animals or plants;

“heather moorland” means land supporting at least 5% cover of heather, bell heather, cross-leafed heath, bilberry and western gorse;

“heritage feature” includes rural features of historical interest;

“improved land” means grassland on which more than 25% of the sward is comprised of rye-grass, timothy, red-fescue or white clover and any land used for arable crops;

“large nest box” means a nest box with a floor area of approximately 203mm x 165mm for birds to replace the natural location lost through changes in farming practice;

“lowland raised bog” means intact or cut-over dome shaped peatland;

“management plan” means a set of prescriptions for the management of field boundaries, farm wastes and habitats;

“moorland” means land with predominantly semi-natural upland vegetation, or comprising predominantly rock outcrops and semi-natural upland vegetation;

“National Nature Reserve” means land declared to be a national nature reserve under Article 18 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985;

“Natura 2000 site” means an area designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under Council Directive 92/43/EEC(3) or as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under Council Directive 74/409/EEC(4);

“parkland” means an enclosed area of land at least 3 hectares in extent with a minimum of two mature trees per hectare;

“protective fencing” means a woven wire or line wire fence, completed to at least BS1722 standards;

“red squirrel feeder” means a hopper feeder that enables squirrels to reach food by utilising the weight difference between adult red and grey squirrels;

“reed bed” means a wetland dominated by stands of the common reed where reed cover is greater than 75%;

“restricted grazing period” means a time of year when limits to stocking levels apply;

“rough grass field margin” means land forming a strip with a minimum width of 2 metres around arable fields in which cereal or arable crops are being grown and on which a suitable grass mixture is sown;

“rough moorland grazing” means coarse grassland vegetation comprising wholly or mainly mat-grass, purple moor-grass, cotton-grasses, wavy hair grass and sedges;

“scrape” means a shallow depression temporarily or permanently holding water created for the benefit of breeding waders;

“semi-natural grassland” means grassland characterised by sward of low productivity grasses, sedges or rushes and a high cover of herbaceous plants;

“the Sites and Monuments Records” means the information system maintained by the Department of the Environment holding all known archaeological and historical sites from 7000 BC onwards;

“small nest box” means a nest box with a floor area of approximately 120mm x 150mm for birds to replace the natural location lost through changes in farming practice;

“species rich grassland” means grassland with a sward of low productivity grasses and a high cover of herbaceous indicator plants;

“species rich hay meadows” means species rich grassland used for the production of hay;

“swamp” means a wet area with vegetation growing permanently in standing water;

“traditional orchard” means an orchard planted with traditional varieties and no greater than 0.4 hectares;

“undersown cereals” means a spring cereal crop sown with a green cover crop such as ryegrass;

“unimproved land” means grassland containing less than 25% rye grass, timothy, red fescue or white clover;

“whole farm payment” means a payment per hectare relating to the whole area of land under agreement;

“wild bird cover crop” means a crop mixture which is not normally used for agricultural production and where the individual components cannot be harvested separately;

“winter feeding sites for migratory swans and geese” means fields of grassland or winter cereals or arable crops which have been regularly used for winter grazing by a minimum of 25 swans or geese (except Canada goose and feral Greylag goose) for at least three of the previous five winters.

(1)

ISBN 1 855 524 4

(2)

S.I. 1985/170 (N.I. 1) as amended by 1989/492 (N.I. 3)

(3)

O.J. No. L206, 22.7.92, p. 7

(4)

O.J. No. L103, 25.4.79, p. 1