Avon Valley ESA
- Aims and objectives
- Background to the ESA
- Tier 1A - Improved permanent grassland
- The low fertiliser supplement
- Tier 1B - Extensive permanent grassland
- Breeding wader supplement
- Tier 1C - Wet grassland
- Tier 2A - Reversion of arable land to permanent grassland
- Tier 2B - Arable margin buffer strips
- Woodland tier
Aims and objectives
1.The Avon Valley ESA aims to maintain and enhance the pastoral landscape character of the river valley, its associated nature conservation interest and historic resources. The Scheme encourages a range of environmentally friendly grazing systems and other land management practices to meet these aims.
2. Specific objectives are:
| Related tier(s) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | To maintain and enhance landscape quality through the retention or re-creation of permanent grassland through management of characteristic elements such as ditches and pollarded willows. | All |
| 2. | To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest of the river valley grassland by sustaining and extending the area under extensive management, by managing associated wetland habitats and by increasing the area of land attractive to waders and wildfowl. | 1A, 1B, 1C, inc. Breeding Wader Supplement |
| 3. | To enhance the nature conservation interest of improved grassland and increase the protection of adjacent water courses by reducing inorganic fertiliser applications. | Low fertiliser Supplement |
| 4. | To create new grassland habitats and protect the nature conservation interest of watercourses by reverting arable to permanent grassland and by establishing grass buffer strips. | 2A, 2B |
| 5. | To protect archaeological and historic features. | All |
| 6. | To maintain and enhance the nature conservation and landscape interest of small-scale native woodland. | Woodland |
Background to the ESA
1.The ESA covers 5,200 hectares of floodplain and adjoining land in the valley of the River Avon, extending from Netheravon in Wiltshire at the northern end, downstream through Hampshire and Dorset to the sea at Christchurch. The river is one of the finest chalk rivers in England, with a pastoral landscape that has evolved over centuries through farming of the naturally fertile flood plain. The ESA consists mainly of grassland which is used for beef production, dairying, sheep and horse grazing.
2.The valley is of international importance for wildlife. The river is probably the most species-rich lowland river in Britain. It has a rich aquatic flora and fauna, including some rare species. The Avon is also renowned for its associated unimproved wet grassland and other wetland habitats. Five areas of the ESA (1000 ha) have been designated as SSSIs on this basis; some of these areas, together with the riverine SSSI (the entire river system), form a proposed Special Area of Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive. The grasslands, particularly in the lower reaches, are renowned for the populations of breeding waders and wintering wildfowl that they support; for this reason, the southern end of the valley is a potential Special Protection Area under the EC Birds Directive and is a proposed Ramsar site.
3.The combinations of grassland, streams, small woods, scrub and willow carr create a varied landscape of high value. The middle reaches of the river have the highest concentration of traditional water meadows in England and there are archaeological remains dating from prehistoric times to more recent industrial monuments. The main causes of detrimental change, both to landscape and wildlife, have been the intensification of grassland management and land drainage.
4.This is a 'part-farm' ESA which started in 1993. The scheme was revised in 1998 and the uptake by the end of 1998 was 1,668 ha.
5.A priority objective for the ESA is to sustain and extend the area of grassland under extensive management. The tier structure has been amended to enable better targeting and to provide more flexibility, through the mechanism of the Grassland Management Plan. For improved grassland (Tier 1A), a low fertiliser supplement is available to help improve the habitat value of watercourses. The new Breeding Wader supplement is available for Tier 1A and Tier 1B land (extensive permanent grassland) which limits stock densities during the nesting season on land suited to breeding waders. For wet grassland under Tier 1C, management of grazing livestock and water levels are required to provide conditions suited to wading birds. In the reversion of arable land to permanent grassland (Tier 2A) the use of native seed mixtures is now encouraged. Chalk rivers, floodplain grazing marshes, fens and reedbeds are all Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitats.
6.A further objective (Tier 2B) is to protect watercourses from agricultural pollutants by creating permanent grass buffer strips (which also provide wildlife habitat) along the margins of arable land. On these the application of fertiliser and pesticides is prohibited and a management plan has to be agreed. Cereal field margins are a priority habitat under the Biodiversity Action Plan. There is also a new woodland tier to encourage positive management and natural regeneration of small native woods.
7.Throughout the ESA, the enhancement, management or renovation of features such as ditches, sluices and pollarded willows, are encouraged through Conservation Plans.
Tier 1A - Improved permanent grassland
Scheme Prescriptions
- Agree in writing with the Project Officer and implement a grassland management plan which will cover grazing and mowing rotations, stocking densities, fertiliser and manure use, weed control and ditch maintenance.
- Maintain grassland and do not plough, level or reseed the land. You may use a chain harrow or roller but no other form of cultivation is allowed.
- Graze with cattle and/or sheep but avoid poaching, undergrazing or overgrazing. Other animals including horses may only be grazed by prior written agreement with the Ministry.
- If you cut the grass for hay, or silage graze the aftermath.
- Do not increase your existing application rates of inorganic fertiliser or organic fertiliser and in any case do not exceed 250 kg per ha of total nitrogen per year. Do not apply organic fertiliser within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole that supplies water for human consumption or within 10 metres of any watercourse.
- Do not apply any fertilisers within 5 metres of hedgerows.
- The Ministry will make a supplementary payment if you agree in writing with the Project Officer to restrict application rates of inorganic or organic fertiliser to 50 kg per hectare per year of nitrogen in total.
- Injurious weeds (spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock and ragwort) together with nettles must be controlled.
- Do not use fungicides, insecticides and herbicides, except to control injurious weeds and nettles by spot treatment or weedwiper.
- Supplementary feeding of livestock must be agreed in advance in writing with the Project Officer.
- Do not moledrain, use a sub-soiler or install any new field drainage system or substantially modify any existing land drainage system so as to improve the drainage.
- Maintain existing watercourses and ditches in rotation by mechanical means, not sprays. After drying, spoil must be spread adjacent to the watercourse or ditch. Do not fill in any watercourses or low areas in the field.
- Retain and manage hedges. Stockproof hedges must be maintained in a stockproof condition using traditional methods.
- Maintain ponds, lakes, pools, sedgebeds and reedbeds on a rotational basis. Obtain written advice within two years of the start of your agreement on the management of these features and implement it.
- Do not damage, destroy or remove any feature of archaeological or historical value or interest.
- Obtain written advice on siting and materials before constructing buildings or roads or carrying out any other engineering or construction works which do not require planning permission or prior notification determination by the Local Planning Authority.
- Dispose of sheep dip safely. Do not spread sheep dip where it may affect areas of nature conservation value.
- You must abide by the Codes of Good Agricultural Practice (see Annex IVII) for the Protection of Soil, Air and Water, published by the Ministry (references PB 0617, PB 0618 and PB 0587) as amended from time to time.
Agronomic Impact
- Reduction in overall stocking rates by an average of 0.1 GLU/hectare as a result of restrictions on drainage and sward replacement.
- Minor reduction in stock carrying capacity of grassland associated with fertiliser spreading restrictions near to watercourses and hedgerows.
- Grassland management plans are likely to be neutral in terms of their effect on stock carrying capacity.
- Hand or weedwiper application of herbicides.
- Maintenance of ditches by mechanical means.
- Management of stockproof hedges by traditional means.
- Pollarding willows on a regular basis.
- Management of water features.
| £/ha | Losses | Gains |
|---|---|---|
| Extra income | ||
| Costs saved | ||
| Interest on working capital re stock | 2.5 | |
| labour savings re stock | 3.2 | |
| Income lost | ||
| Livestock gross margin at 0.1 GLU/ha | 23.9 | |
| Loss of grazing on field margins | 8.3 | |
| Extra costs | ||
| Hand application of herbicides | 10.4 | |
| Ditch maintenance | 5.4 | |
| Hedge maintenance | 1.1 | |
| Willow pollarding | 1.1 | |
| Water feature maintenance | 1.1 | |
| Total | 51.2 | 5.7 |
| Income forgone | 45.5 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 500 hectares
- Income forgone
- £46/ ha per hectare
- Current payment rate
- £35/ha
- Level of incentive
- N/A
The Low Fertiliser Supplement
Scheme Prescriptions
Prescription 7 of Tier 1A.
Agronomic Impact
- Reduction in stocking rates of 0.5 GLU/ha from 1.8 GLU/ha to 1.3. Typical stock displaced are suckler cows, store cattle and dairy replacements.
- Reduction in fertiliser application.
- Consequential savings in forage costs, labour requirement and interest on working capital.
| £/ha | Losses | Gains |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Income | ||
| Livestock quota leasing at 0.5 GLU/ha | 3.1 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Labour costs on 0.5 GLU/ha | 17.3 | |
| Forage costs at 1.8 GLU/ha | 70.0 | |
| Interest on working capital re forage | 3.2 | |
| Interest on working capital re stock on 0.5 GLU | 13.3 | |
| Income Lost | ||
| Livestock gross margin for 0.5 GLU/ha | 121.7 | |
| Extra Costs | ||
| Forage costs | 31.8 | |
| Interest on working capital re forage | 1.1 | |
| Total | 154.5 | 106.8 |
| Income forgone | 47.8 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 250 hectares
- Income forgone
- £48/ha
- Current payment rate
- £50/ha
- Level of incentive
- 4.2%
Tier 1B - Extensive Permanent Grassland
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe all prescriptions 1-18 (Tier 1A) plus additional prescriptions set out below:-
- Do not use a chain harrow or roller during the period 1 April to 30 June.
- Do not top or cut the grass for hay or silage before 1 July.
- Do not apply inorganic or organic fertiliser except for farmyard manure (FYM) produced on the farm. Do not apply slurry.
- Do not apply more than your existing application rate of farmyard manure and, in any event, do not apply more than 12.5 tonnes of farmyard manure per hectare (5 tons per acre) per year.
- Do not apply farmyard manure during the period 1 April to 31 May and, outside this period, apply it only in a single dressing.
- Do not apply lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce the acidity of the soil.
Agronomic Impact
1.Reduction in stocking rates from 1.8 GLU/ha to 0.8. Typical stock displaced are suckler cows, store cattle and dairy replacements.
2.Consequential savings in forage costs, labour requirement and interest on working capital.
| £/ha | Losses | Gains |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Income | ||
| Livestock quota leasing at 1 GLU/ha | 4.6 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Labour costs at 1.0 GLU/ha | 33.5 | |
| Forage costs at 1.8 GLU/ha | 70.0 | |
| Interest on working capital re forage | 3.2 | |
| Interest on working capital re stock at 1.0 GLU | 26.6 | |
| Income Lost | ||
| Livestock gross margin at 1.0 GLU/ha | 243.4 | |
| Extra Costs | ||
| Forage costs | 0 | |
| Interest on working capital re forage | 0 | |
| Tier 1a prescriptions | 45.5 | |
| Total | 288.9 | 137.8 |
| Income forgone | 151.1 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 1300 hectares
- Income forgone
- £151.1/ha
- Current payment rate
- £135/ha
- Level of incentive
- N/A
Breeding Wader Supplement
Scheme Prescriptions
Available on Tiers 1A and 1B
25.Restrict stocking densities to not more than 0.75 livestock units per hectare during the period from 1 April - 30 May on areas specified by the Project Officer to contain breeding wader birds. Stock more heavily in the summer and autumn to create an agreed sward condition for the following year. Sheep may only be grazed in conjunction with cattle.
Agronomic Impact
1.For a supplementary payment on Tier 1b participants will need to reduce stocking rates in the spring. Typically, stocking rates would be reduced from 0.8 GLU per hectare to 0.6 for the season.
2.Consequential savings in forage costs, labour requirement and interest on working capital
| £/ha | Losses | Gains |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Income | ||
| Livestock quota leasing | 1.5 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Interest on work. capital re stock at 0.2/ha | 5.0 | |
| Labour re 0.2 GLU | 6.5 | |
| Income Lost | ||
| Livestock gross margin at 0.2 GLU/ha | 48.9 | |
| Extra Costs | nil | |
| Total | 48.9 | 13 |
| Income forgone | 35.9 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 400 hectares
- Income forgone
- £35.9/ha
- Current payment rate
- £40/ha
- Level of incentive
- 11.1%
- Justification for Incentive
- This supplement is important for extending the positive impact of the ESA on breeding wader populations.
Tier 1C - Wet Grassland
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions 1-18(Tier 1A) and 19-24 (Tier 1B) plus additional prescriptions set out below:-
- Graze with cattle or cattle and sheep but avoid poaching, undergrazing or overgrazing. The land must not be grazed between 1 April and 31 May and during June the stocking density must be restricted to 0.75 livestock units per hectare. Stock the land in the summer and autumn to create an agreed sward condition for the following year. Do not graze with sheep from 1 September to 30 March.
- Manage field water tables so that at least 20% of the land under agreement in this tier is covered in shallow surface water from 1st December to 31 March and shallow pools remain over at least 10% of the same area until 31 May.
- Ditches should be maintained so as to allow the control of field water levels by the operation of appropriately sited water control structures. In order to achieve the surface pools it must be possible to bring ditch water levels up to bank top for short periods of time. At all times of year a minimum of 300 mm depth of water must be maintained in the ditches.
- No grazing must take place between 1 April and 31 May. During June stocking must be restricted to 0.75 livestock units per hectare. Sheep grazing is prohibited from 1 September to 30 March.
Agronomic Impact
1.Areas of raised water levels would need to be created. Typically this would be carried out by modifications to the drainage system. Capital grant is available under a Conservation Plan at the rate of 80% of the cost.
2.Additional labour would be needed to maintain water levels.
Reduction in stocking rates from 1.8 GLU/ha to ½ a store beef animal.
3.Typical stock displaced are suckler cows, store cattle and dairy replacements.
4.Consequential savings in forage costs, labour requirement and interest on working capital.
| £/ha | Losses | Gains |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Income | ||
| Livestock gross margin (0.5 forward store) | 39.5 | |
| Livestock quota leasing | 4.6 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Labour costs at 1.8 GLU/ha | 60.5 | |
| Forage costs at 1.8 GLU/ha | 70.0 | |
| Interest on working capital re forage | 3.2 | |
| Interest on working capital re stock at 1.8GLU | 47.3 | |
| Income Lost | ||
| Livestock gross margin at 1.8 GLU/ha | 437.8 | |
| Extra Costs | ||
| Labour costs for 0.5 forward store | 1.1 | |
| Interest on working capital re 0.5 forward store | 4.2 | |
| Forage costs | 0.0 | |
| Interest on working capital re forage | 0.0 | |
| Maintenance of water levels | 35.6 | |
| Tier 1a prescriptions | 45.5 | |
| Total | 524.2 | 225.0 |
| Income forgone | 299.2 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 400 hectares
- Income forgone
- £273/ha
- Current payment rate
- £275/ha
- Level of incentive
- 10.3%
- Justification for Incentive
- This tier is crucial to attempts to encourage breeding wader populations and to the success of the ESAs as a whole. Entry into this tier is time consuming for potential participants as they need to plan and arrange for higher water levels to be available. Many perceive that the grassland will be totally unproductive as a result of the wet conditions persisting into the peak growing season. As a result, new applications for entry to this tier have been disappointing.are disappointing.
Tier 2A - Reversion of Arable Land to Permanent Grassland
Scheme Prescriptions
- Cease arable production or ley grassland production. Within 12 months of the start of your agreement establish a permanent grass sward using suitable species chosen from an approved list. Agree in writing with the Project Officer before purchase the seed mix to be used. Seed of native origin should be used wherever the Ministry considers it appropriate.
- During the first 12 months of the start of the agreement do not apply any of the following without obtaining the Ministry's prior written approval.
- inorganic or organic fertiliser;
- lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce the acidity of the soil;
- fungicides, insecticides or herbicides.
- Cut the grass and remove as hay, but not silage, during the first three years following grassland establishment and graze the aftermath. Do not cut the grass before 1 July.
- From the start of the agreement follow all the Tier 1A prescriptions from prescription 10, "Supplementary feeding of livestock...."
- After the 12 month period you must also follow the remaining prescriptions in Tiers 1A and 1B, except number 7.
- On grassland reverted from arable, do not exceed an annual average stocking level of 1.4 Livestock Units (LU) per hectare.
Agronomic Impact
1.Arable production will cease resulting in a loss of gross margin from these crops.
2.Field average yields provide higher gross margins than those at the field edge.
3.A grass sward using approved species will need to be established.
4.This grass can be grazed after the area is fenced and water provided. The capital cost of the fencing and water provision will be aided under a Conservation Plan at the appropriate standard payment rate.
5.Fixed cost changes associated with arable reversion will be possible, though additional costs will be incurred as a result of the introduction of livestock.
6.Tier 1a prescriptions will need to be followed.
| £/ha | Losses | Gains |
|---|---|---|
| Extra income | ||
| Hay production | 48 | |
| Grazing (0.2 GLU at £234/GLU) | 48.9 | |
| Costs saved | ||
| Interest on work. Capital on arable crops | 12 | |
| Fixed costs savings | 119.2 | |
| Income lost | ||
| Loss of arable gross margin | 531.0 | |
| Extra costs | ||
| Interest on work. cap. re livestock | 5.0 | |
| Livestock quota leasing | 0 | |
| Grass establishment (amortised) | 38.4 | |
| Fencing (amortised) | 24.8 | |
| Tier 1a prescriptions | 45.5 | |
| Total | 644.7 | 228.0 |
| Income forgone | 416.7 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 120 hectares
- Income forgone
- £417/ha
- Current payment rate
- £300/ha
- Level of incentive
- N/A
Tier 2B - Arable Margin Buffer Strips
Scheme Prescriptions
- Establish a permanent grass sward over a width of 5-30 metres using an appropriate grass seeds mixture. Agree in writing with the Project Officer before purchase the seed mix to be used. Seed of native origin should be used wherever the Ministry considers it appropriate.
- Do not apply any fertilisers or pesticides on this strip.
- Agree in writing with the Project Officer appropriate management of the buffer strip. Normally this will involve either taking a hay crop or topping, both after 1 July. In the first years of establishment, topping to control weed growth may be permitted with written agreement from the Project Officer. Where the buffer strip adjoins a grazed ley it can be grazed, once it is established, rather than cut.
Agronomic Impact
- A conservation grass mixture is sown on an arable field margin of between 5 and 30 metres wide.
- This will result in loss of the arable gross margin. Field edge gross margins are lower than the average for the whole field.
- Some fixed costs savings can be made.
- Cutting is used to control weeds and thicken the sward in the first year. Thereafter cutting is to be carried out in rotation every other year.
- These strips will have limited forage value due to the sward type and accessibility. In the budget below it is assumed that 20% of the area can be cut for hay.
| £/ha | Losses | Gains |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Income | ||
| Hay production | 5 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Interest on work. capital on arable crops | 12.0 | |
| Fixed costs savings | 119.2 | |
| Income Lost | ||
| Loss of arable gross margin | 494.1 | |
| Extra Costs | ||
| Grass establishment (amortised) | 32.3 | |
| Total | 526.4 | 136.1 |
| Income forgone | 390.3 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 20 hectares
- Income forgone
- £390.3/ha
- Current payment rate
- £425/ha
- Level of incentive
- 9%
Woodland Tier
Scheme Prescriptions
Retain any woodland, copses or groups of trees. Agree in writing with the Project Officer and implement a programme to maintain and enhance the conservation and landscape value of non net-income generating woodland. All farm woodland on or adjacent to your agreement land must be entered into this woodland tier. Other woodland not on or adjacent to your agreement land may be entered at the discretion of the Ministry.
Agronomic Impact
The prescriptions for this tier have the following implications with a significant economic consequence.
1. Positive management actions of varying descriptions will need to be undertaken over the life of the agreement.
| £/ha | Losses | Gains |
|---|---|---|
| Income lost | ||
| Costs saved | ||
| Extra costs | 23.0 | |
| Sub-total | 23.0 | |
| Extra income | ||
| Total | 23.0 | |
| Income forgone | 23.0 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 40 hectares ha
- Income forgone
- £23/ha
- Current payment rate
- £17/ha
- Level of incentive
- N/A
Page last modified:
17 August, 2005
Page published: 10 December, 2002