The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (The Broads) Designation Order 1997

Articles 4(2) and 5(2)(e)

SCHEDULE 6 ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS TO WHICH PAYMENTS REFERRED TO IN SCHEDULE 9, PART II, ITEMS 5 and 6 RELATE

Option 1

1.  A requirement to the effect that, as regards any land which is subject to the agreement, which is suitable for reversion to permanent grassland and which on 31st August 1991 was in arable cropping or had been in ley management for less than five years as part of an arable rotation—

(a) within twelve months of the commencement of the agreement, the farmer shall cease arable production on the land and shall establish a grass sward on it; and

(b) during the period of twelve months from the commencement of the agreement, the farmer shall not apply—

(i) fertiliser to the land,

(ii) lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce the acidity of the soil of the land, or

(iii) pesticides to the land,

without obtaining the Minister’s prior approval.

2.  A requirement to the effect that the farmer shall observe the requirements of Schedule 1, paragraph 1 from the expiry of the twelve month period referred to in paragraph 1(b) above in relation to the land referred to in paragraph 1 above.

3.  A requirement to the effect that the farmer shall not exceed a stocking level of 1.4 livestock units per hectare of the land referred to in paragraph 1 above, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “livestock unit” means—

(a) 1 bovine animal more than 2 years old;

(b) 1.66 bovine animals no younger than 6 months old but less than 2 years old;

(c) 6.66 sheep; or

(d) 1 horse more than 6 months old or pony more than 6 months old.

Option 2

1.  As regards any strip which is subject to the agreement, requirements to the effect that—

(a) within twelve months of the commencement of the agreement the farmer shall cease arable production on the strip and shall establish a grass sward on it;

(b) the farmer shall cut the strip annually after 30th June in any given year and shall ensure that the cuttings do not enter any dyke on the land subject to the agreement;

(c) the farmer shall not apply to the strip without the prior approval of the Minister—

(i) fertiliser,

(ii) lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce the acidity of the soil on it, or

(iii) fungicide and insecticides; and

(d) subject to paragraph 2 below, the farmer shall not apply herbicides to the grassland except to control nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock or ragwort, shall control infestations of those weeds by cutting or by herbicides, and if using herbicides for that purpose shall apply them by weed wiper or by spot treatment; and

2.  A provision to the effect that, notwithstanding paragraph 1(d) above, the farmer may cultivate and apply herbicides to that part of the strip up to 1 metre wide which adjoins land in cultivation where it is desirable so to do in order to maintain a sterile area.