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Blackdown Hills ESA

Aims and objectives

1.The Blackdown Hills ESA aims to protect and enhance the landscape, wildlife and historic interest of the area through the maintenance and adoption of traditional management practices associated with livestock farming systems, particularly those based on permanent grassland.

Summary of Objectives and their relationship to tiers

    Related tier(s)
1. To maintain and restore the landscape character through the maintenance of grassland and woodland and the protection, traditional management and restoration of key elements such as hedges, hedgebanks, hedgerow trees and traditional buildings. All, inc. field boundary supplements
2. To protect archaeological and historic features. All
3. To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest and landscape character of unimproved pasture and rough land, by encouraging appropriate grazing, cutting and scrub/bracken control. 1D
4. To maintain the nature conservation interest and landscape character of low-input permanent grassland. 1C
5. To protect a range of habitats and features of environmental interest through the extensive management of grassland field margins. Grassland Field Margin Supplement (1B & 1C)
6. To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest of species-rich hay meadows. 2
7. To increase the area of heathland on land previously improved for agriculture. 3
8. To maintain and enhance the nature conservation and landscape interest of small-scale native woodland. Woodland Tier

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Background to the ESA

1.The ESA extends over 39,270 hectares and lies mainly within the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It is a high, elevated plateau of improved enclosed grassland and cultivated land, deeply dissected by narrow valleys where land use is dominated by enclosed permanent grassland with a strong pattern of hedgebanks and frequent hedgerow trees. Between the plateau and the lower farmland is a discontinuous belt of Greensand often dominated by woodland and semi-natural vegetation, in particular springline mires. The northern part of the ESA comprises a long north facing escarpment with extensive areas of woodland, and improved and semi-improved grassland. Farming is based mainly on low intensity dairy and mixed livestock systems.

2.The environmental value of the area lies in its small-scale patchwork of grass fields, hedgebanks/rows and woodland and the diversity of habitats, such as mires, unimproved grassland, water courses and remnant heathland. The area has a rich historic heritage including evidence of many centuries of settlement and farming, with extensive remains of small-scale industry, such as lime kilns, marl pits and mills.

3.Environmental threats have included increasing specialisation of dairy farming, amalgamation of holdings, increased mechanisation, larger fields, loss of hedgerows, conversion of permanent grass to arable land and the abandonment of marginal land. Semi-natural habitats have been lost and those that remain have become increasingly fragmented. In places, the lack of traditional management has become increasingly apparent, where hedges and orchards have been grubbed out and hedge management abandoned or replaced by flailing. The ESA was designated to encourage sympathetic traditional management practices to protect the environmental value of the area in balance with the agriculture.

4.This is a 'whole-farm' scheme which started in 1994. The scheme has been revised in 1999 and the uptake at the end of 1998 was approximately 11,250 ha.

5.A priority objective is to promote the traditional management of permanent grassland (Tiers 1B & 1C). Tier 1B has been was modified to allow selective re-seeding of permanent grassland, with prior approval. The Conditions of Entry and Prescriptions for Tier 1C have been were revised to focus on the management of permanent grassland, which has, or is capable of developing, a relatively diverse sward. Bracken control by approved chemicals, other than Asulam, is now allowed in certain circumstances. In addition, maximum fertiliser rates have been were reduced to protect the wildlife value of these areas. Land in both tiers (1B & 1C) is now eligible for a new Grassland Field Margin Supplement, which is designed to protect field boundaries and environmental features through the management of buffer strips where the application of fertiliser, pesticides and other substances is prohibited.

6.Better management of the unimproved pasture and rough land is now possible following the requirement to agree a Grassland Management Plan on all areas of Tier 1D land. This will allow the individual needs of the site to be taken into account as regards the period and numbers of stock and the level of scrub and bracken control.

7.The species-rich hay meadow tier (Tier 2) has been revised to include a reduction in the use of farm yard manure and the grazing by other stock in addition to sheep or cattle (following prior approval). A new heathland re-creation tier (Tier 3) has been introduced to encourage environmental enhancement of areas previously improved for agriculture.

8.Tiers 1C, 1D, 2 and 3 are the main mechanism for achieving the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets for the range of grassland habitats in the area.

9.All tiers aim to maintain the landscape character of the ESA, together with the field boundaries and historic features. Tier 1A has been redesigned to includes woodland and relaxes , to relax some of the restrictions on normal farming operations, to permit slight increases in arable cropping areas. It gives , to give greater protection to historic features and to encourages more positive hedge management (via the supplements). The restoration or enhancement of the key landscape and historic features is promoted through the two Hedgerow Supplements (hedge restoration and traditional hedge management) and various Conservation Plan items.

10. There is a new The Woodland Tier to encourages positive management of small woods. Site-specific management plans will be established to enhance the nature conservation and landscape value of such areas.

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Tier 1A All land

Scheme Prescriptions
  1. Do not increase your existing area of arable land without the Ministry's prior written approval.
  2. Do not apply any organic fertiliser within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole that supplies water for human consumption or within 10 metres of any watercourse.
  3. Retain hedges, walls and hedgebanks and do not remove any part thereof. Maintain stockproof hedges, walls and hedgebanks in a stockproof condition using traditional materials.
  4. Do not plough or apply pesticides or fertiliser on land within 1 metre of any hedge, wall or hedgebank.
  5. For a supplementary payment, you MAY agree a programme to manage stockproof hedgerows in a traditional manner, so that laying of the hedge occurs at the appropriate time in the management cycle. Payment for this annual management will be calculated on the basis of every 10 metres of traditionally managed stockproof hedges per hectare of agreement land with hedges. You must agree to manage at least 10 metres of stockproof hedges per hectare of eligible land in your agreement.
  6. Within two years of the start of your agreement agree in writing with the Project Officer and implement a programme for the selection and/or tagging of saplings and planting of trees in your hedgerows to develop into hedgerow trees. Do not damage or remove tagged or planted trees, in particular during hedge trimming.
  7. Retain and, where necessary, manage all individual and groups of trees; agree in writing with the Project Officer and implement a programme to conserve and protect areas of non net-income generating woodland. These will be identified on the agreement map and will receive payment at the All land rate. Seek prior written approval from the Ministry before planting any new woodland or trees.
  8. Retain and manage watercourses, ditches, ponds and wetland (including margins and banks) for which you are responsible and carry out any necessary management by mechanical means, not pesticides.
  9. Maintain any weatherproof traditional farm buildings for which you are responsible in a weatherproof condition using traditional styles and materials.
  10. Do not damage, destroy or remove any feature of archaeological or historic value or interest.
  11. At the start of your agreement obtain written advice on the management of known archaeological and historic features on your land. Where standard advice on agricultural management is provided this should be implemented within 12 months. Where more specific advice is required this should be obtained within the first 12 months of your agreement and appropriate advice implemented within two years.
  12. Dispose of sheep dip safely. Do not spread sheep dip where it may affect areas of nature conservation value.
  13. You must identify on your application any common land within the ESA where you have grazing rights. Where common land is not subject to agreement, you must not increase your use (stock numbers and period of grazing) of the common land except by prior written agreement with the Ministry.
  14. You must abide by the Codes of Good Agricultural Practice (Annex IVII) for the Protection of Soil, Air and Water, published by the Ministry (references PB 0617, PB 0618 and PB 0585) as amended from time to time.
Agronomic Impact

1.Extra cost of hedge, wall and hedgebank maintenance in traditional materials. Hedges trimming and gapping-up, wall and hedgebank maintenance are more labour intensive and costly than the alternatives which are to remove the hedges/walls completely to make larger fields or replace them with wire fencing. Hedges and hedgebanks generally also require some wire fencing to protect them from damage by livestock.

2.Income lost in not being able to plough or apply fertilisers within one metre of any hedge, wall or hedgebank. There will be a marginal reduction in stocking rates, or arable production, resulting in loss of income. There will be associated income from quota leasing (excess sheep quota as a result of the reduction in stocking rate). Cost savings are likely to be insignificant.

3.Additional cost of side trimming helps to maintain the density and vigour of the hedge whereas in the non-ESA situation lack of side-trimming may lead to the hedge becoming thin and straggly.

4. Loss of crop due to shading as the hedge grows up. In the non-ESA situation top-trimming would reduce the shading effect, but top-trimmed hedges are less accessible to birds.

5. Extra cost of tagging saplings and hedge trimming round them. The cost is insignificant.

6.Extra costs of managing individual or groups of trees:- minor tree surgery, thinning unwanted saplings, removal of dead/felled wood.

7. Extra cost of watercourse management by mechanical means. The cost is insignificant.

8.Extra cost of maintaining traditional buildings using traditional materials. These materials include stone, slate and thatch which are more costly than functional but less attractive non-traditional alternatives such as brick, tiles and corrugated roofing. Where not included in an ESA agreement, many of these traditional buildings would fall in to disrepair or would be replaced with modern buildings more suited to large, modern agricultural machinery.

9.Extra cost of protecting features of archaeological interest. This involves protection with sheep netting and barbed wire and scrub clearance with care to avoid disturbing the soil surface. Since only 3% of farms within the ESA have archaeological sites that are not already protected by a conservation order, the extra costs are insignificant.

Income Forgone Calculation - Tier 1A All land
£/ha Loss Gain
Extra income - None
Costs Saved - None
Income lost   -
Production from no fertiliser applied within 1m from hedge 5  
Sub-total 5  
Extra Costs   -
Hedge maintenance 14  
Managing trees 2  
Maintaining traditional buildings 10  
Woodland management 1  
Ditch management 1  
Sub-total 28  
Total 33 None
Income forgone 33  
Uptake Targets to January 2003
7,000 hectares
Income Forgone
£33/ha
Current Payment Rate
£20/ha
Level of Incentive
N/A
Justification for Incentive
N/A

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Hedge and Hedgebank Restoration Supplement

Scheme Prescriptions

1.For a supplementary payment, you MAY agree in writing with the Project Officer a programme, for a minimum of five years, to restore non-stockproof hedges and their associated hedgebanks. Payment will be calculated on the basis of every metre of hedge restored in each year.

Agronomic Impact

This supplement will involve extra costs associated with the reinstatement of hedges.

Income Forgone Calculation - New Hedge Restoration Supplement
£/100m Loss Gain
Extra Income   Nil
Costs Saved   Nil
Income Lost Nil  
Extra Costs    
Hedge laying 300  
Casting up 57  
Coppicing 123  
Gapping up 67  
Hedgebank restoration 140  
Fencing 240  
Back fencing 120  
Total 1047  
Income forgone 10.47/m  
Targets to January 2003
2000 metres
Income Forgone
£11.47/m £10.47 per metre
Current Payment
£11/m
Level of Incentive
N/A
Justification for Incentive
N/A

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Tier 1B Improved long term grassland

Scheme Prescriptions

Observe prescriptions 1 - 14 (Tier 1A) plus additional prescriptions set out below:-

1.Maintain improved long term grassland by grazing and/or cutting. If regeneration or modification of the sward is considered necessary, this should be carried out only following written approval from the Ministry and only by direct drilling or surface treatment. Only seeds mixtures intended to produce a long term sward may be used. Do not plough or cultivate without the Ministry's prior written agreement.

2.Do not increase your existing application rates of organic or inorganic fertiliser.

3.Graze improved long term grassland with livestock other than pigs or poultry and avoid poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing.

4.If you cut the grass, graze the aftermath. Wilt any grass cut for silage before removal.

5.Do not erect any new permanent fences, other than for side protection of hedges and hedgebanks, without the Ministry's prior written approval.

6.Manage scrub.

7.Obtain written advice on siting, design and materials before constructing buildings or roads or carrying out other engineering or construction works which do not require planning permission or prior notification determination by the Local Planning Authority.

8.Obtain the Ministry's prior written approval if you wish to construct any new ponds.

9.Do not install any new land drainage system or modify any existing land drainage system so as to bring about improved drainage.

Agronomic Impact

1. Restrictions upon cultivation and reseeding will result in a reduction in stocking rate. It is assumed that non-agreement land would typically be reseeded at the rate of 10% every year. Reseeding restrictions will cause grass to deteriorate and stocking rate to fall by 0.2 LU/ha from 1.8 to 1.6 LU/ha.

The reduction in stocking rate will cause the least economic enterprise (sheep) to be reduced by 1.33 ewes/ha. Limited labour savings associated with reduced ewe numbers will be possible.The reduction in ewe numbers will result in the opportunity to lease sheep quota for 3 years out of five: 1.33 units/ha @£7 x3/5 = £5.60/ha.

Extra cost of scrub management, which in practice is insignificant.

Income Forgone Calculation - Tier 1B Improved Long Term Grassland
£/ha Loss Gain
Extra income -  
Sheep quota leasing   6
Sub-total   6
Costs Saved -  
Reseeding   36
Labour   5
Interest on working capital re - sheep   4
Sub-total   45
Income lost   -
Gross Margin for sheep 51  
Production from no fertiliser applied within 1m from hedge 5  
Sub-total 56  
Extra Costs   -
Tier 1A costs 28  
Sub-total 28  
Total 84 51
Income forgone 33  
Uptake Targets to January 2003
4,630 hectares
Income Forgone
£33/ha
Current Payment Rate
£35/ha
Level of Incentive
£2.00 6%
Justification for Incentive
Tier prescriptions were revised in the 1998 policy review to allow surface regeneration of 'permanent' grassland, but not by ploughing and reseeding. This change will continues to provide the environmental benefits demanded by the Schemne Scheme at the same time as offering flexible management to allow agricultural productivity to be maintained. There is a need therefore to reflect in the payment for land in Tiet Tier 1B both the extra environmental benefits that will be achieved and the additional management required. An appropriate differential between tiers is necessary to indicate the importance attached to the maintenance of permanent grassland within the Scheme and acts additionally as an incentive to encourage farmers to enter land into this tier rather than tier 1A where ploughing, reseeding and arable cropping are allowed.

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Grassland field margins supplement

Scheme Prescriptions

Observe prescriptions 1 - 14 (Tier 1A) plus additional prescriptions set out below:-

1.For a supplementary payment, you may agree in writing with the Ministry to establish and manage grassland field margins in permanent grass fields to protect habitats and features of environmental interest.

2.Establish and maintain a grass margin within the range of 4 - 12 metres in width, but averaging at least 6 metres wide, against agreed field boundaries or environmental features.

3.Do not excavate, plough, level, reseed, chain harrow, roll or otherwise cultivate.

4.Do not apply any organic or inorganic fertiliser.

5. Do not apply lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce soil acidity.

6. Do not apply any fungicides or insecticides.

7. Do not apply herbicides except to control spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock or ragwort and then only by means of a wick applicator or by spot treatment.

8. Do not allow any fertilisers or pesticides applied to the main body of the field to encroach on or affect the grassland margin.

9. Do not install any new land drainage system or modify any existing land drainage system so as to bring about improved drainage.

10. Do not store or dump any materials or dispose of any pesticides, including sheep dip, within the grassland margin.

Agronomic Impact

1. Where larger proportions of land are entered into the Scheme, some de-stocking may be required, with consequences for gross margin and interest on working capital.

Income forgone calculation - Grassland Field Supplement
£/ha Loss Gain
Extra Income    
Livestock gross margin at 0.7GLU/ha   164
Livestock quota leasing   3
Sub-total   167
Costs Saved    
Fertiliser costs at 1.8 GLU/ha   73
Fertiliser application costs at 1.8 GLU/ha   28
Interest on working capital re forage   4
Interest on working capital re stock at 1.8 GLU   57
Sub-total   162
Income Lost    
Livestock gross margin at 1.8 GLU/ha 421  
Sub-total 421  
Extra Costs    
Interest on working capital re stock at 0.7 GLU 22  
Sub-total 22  
Total    
Income forgone 114  
Uptake targets to January 2003
80 hectares ha
Income forgone
£114 /ha
Current Payment Rate
£100/ha
Level of Incentive
N/A
Justification for Incentive
N/A

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Tier 1C Low-input permanent grassland

Scheme Prescriptions

Observe prescriptions1 - 14 (Tier 1A) plus additional prescriptions set out below:-

  1. Do not apply herbicides except to control bracken, stinging nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock or ragwort or to carry out stump treatment of cleared scrub. With the exception of bracken control, apply herbicides only by means of a wick applicator or by spot treatment.
  2. Any bracken control must be carried out in accordance with a programme agreed in advance with the Project Officer and any other consents obtained. Where bracken cannot be controlled by mechanical means and the use of a herbicide is necessary, only asulam may be used where application is by means of a boom sprayer (including aerial application). Other herbicides and application methods may be used only in agreement with the Project Officer.
  3. Graze low-input permanent grassland with livestock other than pigs or poultry and avoid poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing.
  4. Do not exceed your existing application rates of inorganic fertiliser and, in any event, do not exceed 25 kg nitrogen, 12.5 kg phosphate and 12.5 kg potash per hectare (20 units of nitrogen, 10 units of phosphate and 10 units of potash per acre) per year.
  5. Do not apply any organic fertiliser except for farmyard manure (FYM). Do not exceed your existing application rates and, in any event, do not exceed 12.5 tonnes per hectare (5 tons per acre) per year. Do not apply slurry, pig or poultry manure or sewage sludge.
  6. Do not apply lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce soil acidity.
  7. Do not apply fungicides or insecticides.
  8. Maintain low-input permanent grassland. Do not plough, level or reseed. Cultivate only with a chain harrow or roller.
  9. If you cut the grass for hay, continue to do so and graze the aftermath. Wilt any grass cut for silage before removal.
  10. Do not install any new land drainage system or modify any existing land drainage system so as to bring about improved drainage.
Agronomic Impact
  1. Not being able to re-seed the grassland, restrictions on fertiliser, FYM and lime application will result in a reduction in stocking rates. Current stocking rates on this type of land are approximately 1.2LU/ha with nitrogen fertiliser applications of 100kg/ha. Thus the typical farmer will not need to reduce fertiliser inputs. Though the restriction on re-seeding and liming are likely to reduce the stocking rate further to 1.05 LU / ha. The reduction in stocking rate will result in the least economic enterprise being reduced by an estimated 0.15 Grazing Livestock Units. This equates to 1 ewe per hectare (1 ewe = 0.15 LU).
  2. Need to control weeds using a wick applicator or by spot treatment will result in increased costs.
  3. There will be extra costs of controlling bracken as without the ESA agreement bracken control would not be undertaken on the more marginal land and this would gradually revert to scrub.
Income Forgone Calculation - Tier 1C Low In-put Permanent Grassland
£/ha Loss Gain
Extra income -  
Sheep quota leasing   4
Sub-total   4
Costs Saved -  
Reseeding costs   24
Labour   5
Interest on working capital re - sheep   3
Lime   6
Sub-total   38
Income lost    
Gross Margin from the sheep 38  
Production from no fertiliser applied within 1m from hedge 5  
Sub-total 43  
Extra Costs    
Tier 1A costs 28  
Bracken and scrub control 1  
Weed control 15  
Sub-total 44  
Total 87 42
Income forgone 45  
Uptake Targets to January 2003
4, 690 hectares
Income Forgone
£45/ha
Current Payment Rate
£45/ha
Level of Incentive
N/A
Justification for Incentive
N/A

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Tier 1D Unimproved pasture and rough land

Scheme Prescriptions

Observe prescriptions 1 - 14 (Tier 1A) plus additional prescriptions set out below:-

  1. Maintain unimproved pasture and rough land. Do not excavate, plough, level, reseed, chain harrow, roll or otherwise cultivate.
  2. In the first year of your agreement, agree in writing with the Project Officer and begin to implement a grassland management plan for the area. This will include the type and number of stock that will be required to graze the area, the period of grazing, any necessary scrub and bracken management and any approved mechanical operations such as topping or cutting.
  3. Areas of rough land must be grazed by cattle during the period 1 April to 31 October, with all livestock being removed during the period 1 November to 31 March.
  4. Do not graze unimproved pasture or rough land so as to cause poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing.
  5. Do not apply any organic or inorganic fertiliser.
  6. Do not apply lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce soil acidity.
  7. Do not apply fungicides or insecticides.
  8. Do not apply herbicides except to control bracken, stinging nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock or ragwort or to carry out stump treatment of cleared scrub. With the exception of bracken control, apply herbicides only by means of a wick applicator or by spot treatment.
  9. Any bracken control must be carried out in accordance with a programme agreed in advance with the Project Officer and any other consents obtained. Where bracken cannot be controlled by mechanical means and the use of a herbicide is necessary, only asulam may be used where application is by means of a boom sprayer (including aerial application). Other herbicides and application methods may be used only in agreement with the Project Officer.
  10. Do not erect any temporary fencing without the Ministry's prior written approval.
  11. Do not provide livestock with supplementary feed or mineral or feed blocks without the Ministry's prior written approval.
  12. Do not install any new land drainage system or modify any existing land drainage system so as to bring about improved drainage.
Agronomic Impact

1. Not being able to re-seed the grassland, restrictions on fertiliser, FYM and lime application will result in a reduction in stocking rates.

2. Extra costs of controlling scrub vegetation and rushes by manual cutting. Outside an ESA agreement these controls would often not be carried out on this marginal land which would gradually revert to scrub.

3. Additional housing costs result from the need to remove stock from rough land over winter where they would typically be fed and allowed to graze. Extra fencing costs are for those areas where rough land was not previously used for grazing. Plus additional cost of fencing to enable livestock to graze during the summer.

4. The reduction in stocking rate will result in a reduction in the economic enterprise.

5. Reduction in stocking rate as no inorganic fertiliser, lime or any liming agent can be applied. It is assumed that 50% of the land in this Tier is unimproved pasture, with the remainder being rough land. The rough land will receive no fertilisers or lime, 70% would typically be grazed by stock over the winter, with 30% not used at all so would need fencing to enable summer grazing. Of the unimproved pasture, 50% receives small amounts of fertilisers and lime. The result of following prescriptions would lead to a reduction in stocking rates for the whole Tier of 0.05 GLU / ha / (0.2 GLU/ha reduction on 0.25% of area).

The reduction in sheep stocking rate would release quota which could be leased to provide extra income.

6. Need to control weeds using a wick applicator or by spot treatment will result increased costs.

7. There will be extra costs of controlling bracken as without the ESA agreement bracken control would not be undertaken on the more marginal land and this would gradually revert to scrub.

Income Forgone Calculation - Tier 1d Unimproved Pasture & Rough Land
£/ha Loss Gain
Extra income -  
Sheep quota leasing   1
Sub-total   1
Costs Saved -  
Labour   2
Fertiliser   3
Interest on working capital re - sheep   1
Lime   1
Sub-total   7
Income lost   -
Gross Margin from the sheep 13  
Sub-total 13  
Extra Costs   -
Tier 1A costs 28  
Housing of livestock 44  
Fencing 5  
Scrub and rush control 8  
Weed control 15  
Sub-total 100  
Total 113 8
Income forgone 105  
Uptake Targets to January 2003
800 hectares
Income Forgone
£105/ha
Current Payment Rate
£70/ha
Level of Incentive
N/A
Justification for Incentive
N/A

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Tier 2 Species rich hay meadows

Scheme Prescriptions

Observe prescriptions1 - 14 (Tier 1A) plus additional prescriptions set out below:-

  1. Do not plough, level or reseed. Cultivate only with a chain harrow or roller except during the period 1 April to 30 June.
  2. Graze with cattle or sheep or both but avoid poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing. Other livestock, including horses/ponies, may be grazed with the Ministry's prior written approval. Exclude stock from hay meadows by 1 May until the end of cutting.
  3. Cut hay meadows annually for hay, but not silage. Do not cut in any year before 1 July. Cut hay meadows after 15 July at least once every five years. Remove the cut crop and graze the aftermath.
  4. Do not apply any organic or inorganic fertiliser except for well-rotted farmyard manure (FYM). Do not exceed your existing application rates of FYM and, in any event, do not apply more than 20 tonnes of FYM per hectare (8 tons per acre) in any three year period. Apply FYM once only in a single dressing.
  5. Do not apply lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce soil acidity.
  6. Do not apply fungicides or insecticides.
  7. Do not apply herbicides except to control bracken, stinging nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock or ragwort or to carry out stump treatment of cleared scrub. With the exception of bracken control, apply herbicides only by means of a wick applicator or by spot treatment. Where bracken cannot be controlled by mechanical means and the use of a herbicide is necessary, then use only asulam.
  8. Any bracken control must be carried out in accordance with a programme agreed in advance with the Project Officer and any other consents obtained. Where bracken cannot be controlled by mechanical means and the use of a herbicide is necessary, only asulam may be used where application is by means of a boom sprayer (including aerial application). Other herbicides and application methods may be used only in agreement with the Project Officer.
  9. Do not provide livestock with supplementary feed or mineral or feed blocks without the Ministry's prior written approval.
  10. Do not install any new land drainage system or modify any existing land drainage system so as to bring about improved drainage.
Agronomic Impact
  1. The inability to plough and reseed will result in a potential loss of hay yield.
  2. Extra cost incurred on purchased feed due to reduced forage quality as a result of late hay cutting. Output is restricted by the inability to apply fertiliser and lime whereas in the non-ESA situation up to 62.5kg of nitrogen plus 31kg phosphate and 31 kg potash would typically be applied per hectare per annum. As a result of this reduced output, extra cost will be incurred for purchasing forage (hay) and/or concentrates. It is estimated that an additional 1.55 tonnes of hay and 0.25 tonnes of concentrates will be needed to replace the lost hay production.
  3. Cost savings will be made as a result of not applying the levels of inorganic fertiliser typically used in the non-ESA situation (see levels above). Savings on liming are considered insignificant.3. There will be extra costs of controlling bracken as without the ESA agreement bracken control would not be undertaken on the more marginal land and this would gradually revert to scrub.
Income Forgone Calculation - Tier 2 Species Rich Hay Meadows
£/ha Loss Gain
Extra income - None
Costs Saved -  
Fertiliser   25
Interest on working capital re - fertiliser   1
Lime   1
Sub-total   27
Income lost None -
Extra Costs   -
Tier 1A costs 28  
Extra concentrates 27  
Extra hay 135  
Sub-total 190  
Total 190 27
Income forgone 163  
Uptake Targets to January 2003
150 hectares
Income Forgone
£163/ha
Current Payment Rate
£150/ha
Level of Incentive
N/A
Justification for Incentive
N/A

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Tier 3 - Re-creation of heathland

Scheme Prescriptions

Observe prescriptions1 - 14 (Tier 1A) plus the additional prescriptions set out below:

  1. Cease to use the grassland within 12 months of the start of your agreement and implement a heathland restoration programme to be agreed in writing with the Project Officer.
  2. Do not graze in the summer so as to inhibit heather regeneration. Graze only with sheep, at a stocking rate not exceeding 0.1 LU/ha between 15 May and 15 August until heather/dwarf shrub vegetation achieves at least 40% ground cover. Exclude all livestock between 16 August and 14 May.
  3. Do not cause poaching or overgrazing.
  4. Do not apply any of the following without obtaining the Ministry's prior written approval:
    1. organic or inorganic fertiliser;
    2. lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce soil acidity:
    3. fungicides, insecticides, herbicides or desiccants.
  5. Do not plough, level, reseed, chain harrow, roll or carry out any other mechanical operations without the Ministry's prior written approval.
  6. Do not provide livestock with supplementary feed or mineral or feed blocks.
  7. When heather and dwarf shrub vegetation exceeds 40% ground cover, sheep grazing may be progressively introduced between 16 August and 31 October subject to the written agreement of the Ministry, but may not in any case exceed 0.1 LU/ha (0.66 ewe/ha).
Agronomic Impact

1. Complete loss of livestock gross margin until after year 5 after establishment when it is estimated 40-50% of ground cover will be established.

2. Extra costs associated with the establishment of heathland.

Income Forgone Calculation - Recreation of Heathland Tier 3
£/ha Loss Gain
Extra Income    
Ewe Gross Margin   13.20
Quota Leasing   12.06
Costs Saved    
Interest on working capital   51.17
Labour   34.27
Fertiliser   76.65
Lime   6.00
Income Lost    
Gross Margin (1.6 GLU/ha) 433.00  
Extra Costs    
Heather establishment 19.46  
Total 452.46 193.35
Income forgone 259.11  
Uptake targets to January 2003
10 hectares a
Income forgone
£259.11/ha
Current Payment Rate
£260/ ha
Level of Incentive
N/A
Justification for incentive
N/A

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Woodland tier

Scheme Prescriptions
  1. Agree in writing with the Project Officer and implement a programme of woodland management to enhance the wildlife and landscape value of native woodland. This will involve making and keeping the woodland stockproof and the carrying out of an ongoing programme of woodland management.
Agronomic Impact

1. Additional costs will be incurred through the implementation of this prescription through the exclusion of stock from woodland areas in approximately half the cases and extra forage will be needed as stock will not be able to overwinter in these areas.

Income Forgone Calculation - New Woodland Tier
£/ha Loss Gain
Extra Income   Nil
Costs Saved   Nil
Income Lost Nil  
Extra costs
*Fencing 368m @ £0.18/m 66.24  
Hay 0.3t/ha @ £65/t 19.50  
Woodland Management 5.00  
Total 90.74  
Income forgone 90.74  
* 0.5ha blocks, 50% fenced, fencing @£1.20/m x 0.152
Targets to January 2003
small scale woodland 45 hectares ha
woodland with SSSI designation 15 hectares ha
Income Forgone
£90/ha.
Current Payment
£100/ ha
Level of Incentive
10%
Justification for incentive
Additional costs will be incurred through the exclusion of stock from wooded areas and extra forage will be needed as stock will not be able to overwinter in these areas.

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Hedgerow management supplement

Scheme Prescriptions
  1. For a supplementary payment, you MAY agree a programme to manage stockproof hedgerows in a traditional manner, so that laying of the hedge occurs at the appropriate time in the management cycle. Payment for this annual management will be calculated on the basis of every 10 metres of traditionally managed stockproof hedges per hectare of agreement land with hedges. You must agree to manage at least 10 metres of stockproof hedges per hectare of eligible land in your agreement.
Agronomic Impact

1. Additional cost of side trimming helps helps to maintain the density and vigour of the hedge whereas in the non-ESA situation lack of side-trimming may lead to the hedge becoming thin and straggly. Loss of crop due to shading as the hedge grows up. In the non-ESA situation top-trimming would reduce the shading effect, but top-trimmed hedges are less accessible to birds.

Income Forgone Calculation - Hedgerow Management Supplement
£/ha Loss Gain
Extra income - None
Costs Saved - None
Income lost   -
Loss of crop due top shading 1.20  
Sub-total 1.20  
Extra Costs   -
Annual side trimming 1.10  
Sub-total 1.10  
Total 2.30 None
Income forgone 2.30  
Uptake Targets to January 2003
155km
Income Forgone
£2.30 per metre
Current Payment Rate
£2.00 per metre
Level of Incentive
N/A

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Page last modified: 17 August, 2005
Page published: 10 December, 2002

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs