The Habitat (Water Fringe) Regulations 1994

Regulations 3(1) and 7(1)

SCHEDULE 4 MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTs FOR STRIPS Of PERMANENT GRASSLAND NOT TO BE USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

As regards any strip of permanent grassland which is the subject of an undertaking under regulation 3(1)(a)—

(1) the beneficiary shall maintain the strip as grassland and shall not plough, level or re-seed;

(2) within three months of the start of the management period the beneficiary shall agree in writing with the Minister a programme for managing the strip, including in particular a cutting regime, and shall thereafter implement that programme;

(3) the beneficiary shall not apply any inorganic or organic fertilisers (including farmyard manure, pig and poultry manure, slurry and sewage sludge);

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

(5) the beneficiary shall not use fungicides or insecticides;

(6) the beneficiary shall control non-indigenous weeds such as Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed by spot treatment with non-residual herbicides approved under Part III of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 for use on or near water, or by annual pulling;

(7) the beneficiary shall not apply herbicides to control weeds other than those referred to in paragraph (6) above, except to control spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock or ragwort, and then only by means of a hand-held weed wiper or by spot treatment;

(8) the beneficiary shall control bracken only in accordance with a programme agreed in advance with the Minister;

(9) the beneficiary shall not store or dump any materials or dispose of any pesticides, including sheep dip;

(10) the beneficiary shall not plant any trees or shrubs without the prior approval of the Minister;

(11) the beneficiary shall retain and manage existing trees, shrubs and hedges on or bordering on the strip;

(12) the beneficiary shall maintain existing watercourses, ditches, ponds, pools and reedbeds for which the beneficiary is responsible on or bordering on the strip;

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

(14) the beneficiary shall not damage, destroy or remove any traditional buildings, stone walls or features of archaeological or historical value or interest;

(15) the beneficiary shall obtain from the Minister written advice on siting and materials 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 uthority under the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988, or planning permission;

(16) the beneficiary shall not authorise any additional public access without the prior written approval of the Minister.