The Organic Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2004

Regulations 2(1), 7(a) and 11(1)(c)(iii)

SCHEDULE 1 CAPITAL ACTIVITIES

Column 1	Column 2
Activity	Requirements
1.  Erection of– (a) A stock fence; (b) Gate and posts; (c) A single stile; or (d) A double stile.	(i) The construction and all materials must conform to the appropriate British Standards; (ii) Except as otherwise provided, fence posts must be placed at intervals of no more than 3.5 metres or 12 metres where high tensile wire and droppers are used; (iii) Except as otherwise provided, a fence must have a minimum of 6 line wires or 2 line wires and woven wire netting; and (iv) Where fences are erected to enhance hedgerows they must be sited at least 1 metre from the centre line of the hedge.
2.  Conversion of a stock fence to a deer fence.	The conversion of an existing stock fence to a deer fence must have new strainers erected and full length stobs driven in every 12 metres and droppers on the top of the fence every 2 metres as well as the existing stobs.
3.  Erection of a scare or temporary fence or rabbit proof netting.	(i) A scare fence must consist of a minimum of 2 line wires with posts at intervals of not more than 6 metres; (ii) Rabbit proofing shall be carried out with galvanised wire netting. The netting must not be less than 1.05 metres wide British Standards designation 18 and have a mesh no larger than 31 millimetres. The top edge of the netting must not be less than 0.9 metres above ground level; (iii) The netting shall be fastened to the fencing and the bottom edge of the netting must be buried in the ground to a suitable depth or turned outward and anchored; and (iv) All gates in rabbit proofed fences must also be rabbit proofed.
4.  Erection of a deer fence marked to reduce bird collision.	(i) Deer fences must not be less than 1.8 metres high and have a minimum of 3 line wires and woven netting with stobs at no more than 3.5 metre intervals and 12 metre intervals with droppers every 2 metres for high tensile wire; and (ii) In areas where black grouse and capercaillie occur, to make the fence more visible and thus reduce the number of collisions, deer fences must use either– (aa) A double strip of orange barrier netting, each strip being approximately 45 centimetres in width. Both strips must be secured with pig rings/wire twists at intervals of circa. 30 centimetres on the upper and lower edges. The top of the upper strip should reach the top strand of the fence. The top of the lower strip must reach the middle strand of the fence; or (bb) Another fence marking design approved in writing by the Scottish Ministers for this purpose.
5.  Erection of a post and rail fence as a tree guard or water gate.	A post and rail fence erected as a tree guard or a water gate must have posts no more than 3 metres apart and 4 rails (70 millimetres x 20 millimetres).
6.  Building or restoration of traditional drystone or flagstone dykes or walls.	Drystone or flagstone dykes or walls must be rebuilt with material traditional to the locality and to a standard normally found there.
7.  Installation of self supporting guard for hedge plants.	Self supporting guards must be securely fixed to protect newly planted material from damage by rodents and grazing animals.
8.  Installation of a water trough.	The trough must be permanently mounted on a durable base and a stopcock must be provided to control the water supply.
9.  Planting, replanting, coppicing or laying of a hedge.	(i) Where new hedging or gapping up of existing hedges is undertaken, plants must be established in a double row with a minimum of 6 plants per metre; (ii) A single species must not account for more than 75% of the plants established; and (iii) Species selected for the replanting or gapping up must already be present within the existing hedge.