The habitat site must consist of a strip or strips of land between 6 metres and 20 metres wide.

The habitat site must be alongside a watercourse within the watershed of a river named in Schedule 6.

The habitat site must be in an area of improved grassland or arable land.

The farmer shall not use the habitat site for agricultural production and livestock must be excluded.

The farmer shall encourage waterside species typical of the locality to develop in the habitat site where natural regeneration can be expected to occur. Where natural regeneration fails or is unlikely, he shall introduce appropriate species typical of the locality with the prior written consent of the Secretary of State.

The farmer shall not treat the habitat site with fertiliser (including farmyard manure and slurry), lime, herbicides or pesticides, except for weed wiper or spot control of statutory weeds using non-residual herbicides. With the prior consent of the Secretary of State, other application methods may be used and other plants may also be treated with a non-residual herbicide.

The farmer shall specify a mowing regime which shall take into account the interests of wildlife. Cuttings must be removed from the habitat site, not used for silage, hay, or fed to livestock and must not cause pollution.

The farmer shall avoid damaging the habitat site by agricultural improvement works, ploughing, new drainage works or cultivations.

The farmer shall not damage, destroy or remove dykes, walls, hedges, traditional weatherproof farm buildings or features of historical or archaeological interest or value, lochs, ponds or streams on or adjacent to the habitat site.

The farmer shall not manage adjacent land so as to adversely affect the conservation value of the habitat site.