The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Breckland) Designation Order 1993

Article 4

SCHEDULE 1 REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO HEATHLAND

As regards any heathland which is the subject of an agreement—

(1) the farmer shall maintain heathland vegetation and shall not plough, level, reseed, cultivate, roll, chain harrow or carry out mechanical operations;

(2) the farmer shall ensure that the sward is hard grazed but shall not graze it with pigs or poultry;

(3) the farmer shall not irrigate;

(4) the farmer shall not apply organic or inorganic fertiliser;

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

(6) the farmer shall not use fungicides or insecticides;

(7) the farmer shall not apply herbicides except to control nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock, ragwort or bracken or for stump treatment of cleared scrub. The farmer shall control infestations of these weeds by means of cutting or by the use of herbicides. Herbicides used for these purposes shall be applied by wick applicator or spot treatment. In the case of bracken, control shall be by means of asulam where it cannot be controlled by mechanical means;

(8) the farmer shall carry out any necessary bracken or scrub control in accordance with a programme agreed in writing in advance with the Minister;

(9) the farmer shall restrict supplementary feeding of livestock (including mineral licks) to areas agreed in advance with the Minister;

(10) the farmer shall identify sites favoured by ground nesting birds and shall agree with the Minister a stock management programme in advance of the breeding season.