The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2009

Regulation 7

SCHEDULE 1 Option, Activities and Eligibility Conditions and Rates of Payment

78.	Controlled livestock grazing	(1)  This is a five year commitment.			£87 per hectare per year
	of woodland	(2)  A beneficiary is eligible for payment under this option if the beneficiary
		(a)	has an area of semi-natural native woodlands of at least 10 hectare; or
		(b)	has an area of semi-natural native woodlands designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest; or
		(c)	has an area of Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) of at least 5 hectares that are actively being restored to native woodland; and
		(3)(a)	implements a sustainable grazing management regime on that land, tailored to individual woodlands to reflect woodland type, grazing history and specific site management objectives;
		(b)	submits an adaptive grazing management plan, agreed with Scottish Ministers. The plan must: include a site appropriate grazing regime determined by using the “Woodland Grazing Toolbox”(1);
		describing the expected environmental impact of livestock grazing; and taking account of the impact of grazing by wild deer.
		(c)	provides evidence to support the adoption of a grazing management regime with the proposal for aid.
		(d)	undertakes the following commitments:
			(i)	Manages livestock in accordance with the agreed grazing management plan;
			(ii)	Adjusts the livestock grazing regime only in line with the results of the site monitoring requirements detailed within the plan;
			(iii)	Implements a deer management plan agreed by the Deer Commission for Scotland;
			(iv)	Manages the grazing of the woodland to maintain an appropriate balance between open ground, regenerating trees, scrub and closed canopy woodland;
			(v)	Undertakes periodic monitoring (normally two times per year) and records the impact of the grazing regime in respect of the site specific objectives;
			(vi)	Avoids excessive poaching by stock;
			(vii)	Does not apply pesticides, lime, artificial fertiliser, farmyard manure or slurry to the site except that herbicides may be applied to control injurious weeds under the Weeds Act 1959 and/or non-native invasive plant species using a weed wiper, spot treatment or hand sprayer;
			(viii)	Undertakes supplementary feeding of stock only when it is required to deliver the conservation objectives;
			(ix)	Manages the trees in accordance with the silvicultural system for the woodland specified and agreed in the grazing management plan;
			(x)	Does not install new drainage or modify/improve existing drainage systems. Existing drains can be maintained;
			(xi)	In upland areas where relevant to Capercaillie and Black Grouse marks all new fences with bird strike markers.

(1)

is available at http:/beatsdesign.co.uk/projects/woodland