The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Stage IV) Designation Order 2000

articles 2(1) and(3), 3 and 5(1)

SCHEDULE 2 COTSWOLD HILLS

PART 1 DESIGNATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA

The area of land in the Cotswold Hills in the counties of Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcester which is shown coloured yellow on the maps contained in the volume of maps marked “Volume of maps of the Cotswold Hills environmentally sensitive area” dated 6th November 2000, signed on behalf of the Minister by the Parliamentary Secretary and deposited at the offices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.

PART 2 CAPITAL ACTIVITIES

• The provision of drystone walls.

• The planting, laying, coppicing and gapping-up of hedges.

• The creation or restoration of ponds.

• The restoration of farm buildings using traditional materials.

• Works to protect historic and archaeological features.

• The control of bracken or scrub.

• The provision of fencing and water supplies associated with the re-introduction of livestock for grazing.

• The provision or restoration of gates, stiles and footbridges where an agreement includes requirements as to public access.

• The re-introduction of pollarding management.

• Tree planting.

• The restoration and replanting of traditional orchards.

• Diverse seed mix for arable reversion.

• Fencing to protect habitats.

• Other works associated with habitat restoration or enhancement.

PART 3 MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Column 1	Column 2
Activity	Maximum rate in £ per hectare of land per annum (except where otherwise stated)
1.  Management of improved permanent grassland.	30
2.  Management of extensive permanent grassland.	70
3.  In relation to cultivated land— (a) management of cultivated land	15
(b) reversion of arable land to extensive permanent grassland	290
(c) retention of stubbles over winter	80
(d) creation and management of conservation headlands.	120
4.  Wall restoration.	£28 per metre
5.  Hedgerow restoration.	£5 per metre
6.  The provision of public access routes.	170

PART 4 DEFINITIONS

In this Schedule:

“conservation headland” means a strip of land subject to restrictions on the use of fertilizers and herbicides, that is between ten and twelve metres wide along the edge of a field growing arable crops;

“extensive permanent grassland” means permanent grassland which is receiving no or only minimal inputs of fertilizer or pesticides;

“improved permanent grassland” means permanent grassland that is regularly treated with fertilizers and used for pasture or for the production of hay or silage;

“permanent grassland” means grassland which has not been ploughed or re-seeded for at least five years.