The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Stage III) Designation Order 2000

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

SCHEDULE 2 EXMOOR

PART 1 DESIGNATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA

The area of land on Exmoor in the counties of Devon and Somerset which is shown coloured yellow on the maps contained in the volume of maps marked “Volume of maps of the Exmoor 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 or laying of hedges.

• The rebuilding of walls using traditional materials.

• The renovation of farm buildings using traditional materials.

• The reversion of land to moorland, or the environmental improvement of moorland.

• The control of bracken, scrub or rhododendron and Japanese knotweed.

• Works to protect historic and archaeological features.

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

• The creation or restoration of ponds.

• Hedgebank restoration.

• The provision and restoration of timber gates and gate posts.

• Protection or provision of hedgerow trees and other saplings.

• Fencing associated with the exclusion of stock under item 11(b) of Part 3 of this Schedule.

• 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.  Maintenance of cultivated land.	14
2.  Management of improved permanent grassland.	18
3.  Management of low input permanent grassland.	30
4.  Management of enclosed unimproved permanent grassland.	38
5.  Where management of any kind referred to in item 4 above is undertaken, additional management for the purpose of enhancing biodiversity through restricted stocking.	10
6.  Creation and management of moorland.	225
7.  Maintenance of moorland.	34
8.  As regards heather moorland and coastal heath— (a) maintenance of heather moorland and coastal heath	50
(b) enhancement of heather moorland and coastal heath	60
9.  Where management of any kind referred to in item 7, 8(a) or 8(b) above is undertaken, additional management for the grazed control of purple moor-grass.	10
10.  Where management of any kind referred to in item 8(a) or 8(b) above is undertaken, additional management for the early adoption of winter stocking restrictions.	5
11.  In relation to woodland (a) maintenance of existing woodland	14
(b) management of woodland to enhance its nature conservation and landscape value.	100
12.  Management of any kind referred to in item 1-11 above in respect of common land	5
13.  The provision of public access routes.	170
14.  Hedgerow restoration.	£10 per metre
15.  Hedgerow management.	£24 per metre
16.  Maintenance of improved permanent grassland and low input permanent grassland.	27

PART 4 DEFINITIONS

In this Schedule:

“enclosed unimproved permanent grassland” means enclosed permanent grassland which has not undergone regular land cultivation, or which has not been regularly treated with fertilizers, lime, slag or pesticides;

“heather moorland or coastal heath” means moorland or coastal heath comprised in a grazing unit where the area of heather is greater than 10 hectares or represents more than 25 per cent of the area of the unit;

“improved permanent grassland” means permanent grassland that is regularly treated with fertilizers and which is used for pasture or for the production of hay or silage;

“low input permanent grassland” means grassland used for pasture or hay or silage production, which has received little or no fertilizer and which has developed or has the potential to develop a diverse botanical interest;

“meadowland” means grassland primarily used for the production of hay or silage;

“moorland” means land covered by semi-natural upland vegetation which is generally unenclosed except along ownership boundaries;

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