The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Stage I) Designation Order 2000

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

SCHEDULE 3 SOMERSET LEVELS AND MOORS

PART 1 DESIGNATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA

The area of land in the Somerset Levels and Moors in the county of Somerset which is shown coloured yellow on the maps contained in the volume of maps marked “Volume of maps of the Somerset Levels and Moors 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 planting, laying or coppicing of hedges.

• The re-introduction of pollarding management including the planting of willows for furture pollarding.

• The renovation of shelter belts and the planting of trees.

• The construction of bunds or sluices, or other works to control water levels.

• The re-instatement of gutters, dykes and ditches.

• The provision of timber gates and timber wing fencing.

• The removal of fencing along ditches and rhynes.

• The removal of scrub.

• The construction or reconstruction of culverts.

• The improvement of droves within areas of raised water levels.

• The conversion of arable land to permanent grassland.

• The creation or improvement of botanically diverse meadows, ponds or scrapes.

• The renovation of farm buildings using traditional materials.

• Works to protect historic or archæological features.

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

• The restoration and replanting of traditional orchards.

• Other works for the restoration or enhancement of wildlife habitats.

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 permanent grassland.	125
2.  Management of extensive permanent grassland.	200
3.  Management of wet permanent grassland.	225
4.  Management of permanent grassland raised water level areas.	430
5.  Creation and management of buffer strips.	£110 per hectare of strip
6.  Maintenance of summer penning level on peat soils.	18
7.  Maintenance of raised water level.	80
8.  Provision of public access routes.	170

PART 4 DEFINITIONS

In this Schedule:

“buffer strip” means a strip of land which is subject to a prohibition on the use of fertilizers or pesticides, which is at least six metres wide and located at the edge of a field used for the production of arable crops;

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

“permanent grassland” means grassland which has not been ploughed or reseeded for at least 5 years;

“wet permanent grassland” means permanent grassland with the potential to retain winter and spring water levels at marsh level to create field wetness or to allow shallow pools to develop.