The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (South Wessex Downs) Designation Order 1993

1.  As regards all land which is the subject of an agreement–

(1) the farmer shall maintain field boundaries and shall not remove any, or any part of, walls or hedges. The farmer shall maintain stockproof hedges and walls in a stockproof condition using traditional methods and materials;

(2) within one year of the start of the agreement, the farmer shall where necessary agree in writing with the Minister a programme to keep fence lines free of brambles, thorn and other overgrowth;

(3) the farmer shall not erect any permanent fences without the Minister’s prior written approval;

(4) the farmer shall retain and manage trees, including pollarded willows, in accordance with local custom;

(5) the farmer shall not plant any trees, hedges or woodland, or allow new scrub to become established, without the Minister’s prior written approval;

(6) within 2 years of the start of the agreement, the farmer shall obtain from a person approved by the Minister written advice on the management of woodland, trees, hedges and scrub and on any proposals to plant new woodland;

(7) the farmer shall maintain ditches and streams by mechanical means;

(8) the farmer shall retain and manage ponds and dewponds;

(9) the farmer shall not damage, destroy or remove any feature of archaeological or historic interest;

(10) the farmer shall maintain any weatherproof traditional farm buildings for which he is responsible in a weatherproof condition using traditional methods and materials;

(11) the farmer shall dispose of sheep dip safely and shall not spread it where it may affect areas of nature conservation value;

(12) the farmer shall obtain written advice on siting and materials from the Minister before constructing buildings or roads or before undertaking any other engineering or construction works which do not require prior notification determination by the local planning authority under the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988(1), or planning permission;

(13) the farmer shall restrict supplementary feeding of livestock to areas agreed in advance with the Minister;

(14) the farmer shall not graze any land so as to cause poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing and shall graze permanent grassland with livestock and downland turf with cattle or sheep or both.

(1)

S.I. 1988/1813. The relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1991/2805.