The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Essex Coast) Designation Order 1994

Articles 4 and 7(1)

SCHEDULE 1 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN AGREEMENT

As regards all permanent grassland which is the subject of an agreement—

(1) the farmer shall maintain permanent grassland and shall not plough, level or reseed. The farmer shall not cultivate except by means of a chain harrow or roller;

(2) the farmer shall graze with cattle, sheep or horses but not so as to cause poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing or he shall cut the grass and remove the cuttings;

(3) the farmer shall wilt and turn any grass cut for silage before removal;

(4) the farmer shall not increase existing application rates of inorganic fertiliser and shall not apply more than 90kg of nitrogen per hectare in any application;

(5) the farmer shall not increase existing application rates of organic fertiliser and, in any event, shall not apply more than 30 tonnes per hectare per year. He shall not apply slurry, pig or poultry manure or sewage sludge. He shall not apply any organic fertiliser within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole that supplies water for human consumption or within 10 metres of a watercourse;

(6) the farmer shall not apply any lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce the acidity of the soil;

(7) the farmer shall not apply any fungicides or insecticides;

(8) the farmer shall control infestations of stinging nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock or ragwort by mechanical means or herbicides and shall apply herbicides used for these purposes by wick applicator or by spot treatment. He shall not apply herbicides for any other purposes;

(9) the farmer shall not install any new land drainage system or modify any existing land drainage system so as to bring about improved drainage;

(10) the farmer shall maintain ditches and dykes (including margins and banks) for which he is responsible in rotation by mechanical means. He shall dry spoil and spread it adjacent to the ditch or dyke;

(11) the farmer shall not fill in existing natural depressions or low areas;

(12) the farmer shall retain and manage hedges, ponds and reedbeds as well as individual trees and groups of trees for which he is responsible. He shall not apply pesticides or fertiliser on land within 1 metre of any hedge;

(13) the farmer shall obtain from a person approved by the Minister written advice on the management of woodland and scrub and on any proposals to plant new woodland;

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

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

(16) the farmer shall obtain from a person approved by the Minister written advice on the agricultural management of known archaeological and hstoric features;

(17) the farmer shall obtain from the Minister written advice on siting, design and materials before constructing buildings or roads or before carrying out 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.

(1)

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