Breckland ESA
- Aims and objectives
- Background to the ESA
- All land
- Tier 1 - Heathland
- Tier 2 - Reversion to heathland
- Tier 3 - River valley grassland
- Water level supplement
- Tier 4A - Uncropped wildlife strips
- Tier 4B - Conservation headlands
- Tier 4C - Targeted arable reversion to grassland
- Tier 4D Winter stubbles
- Woodland Tier
Aims and objectives
- The Breckland ESA aims to maintain and enhance the distinctive landscape, wildlife habitats and archaeological interest of the area by encouraging traditional agricultural management practices.
- Specific objectives are:
| Related tier(s) | ||
| 1. | To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest of heathland. | 1 |
| 2. | To enhance the nature conservation interest of appropriate areas by creating new heathland from arable and forestry land. | 1, 2 |
| 3. | To enhance the nature conservation interest in targeted areas of arable land. | 4A- D |
| 4. | To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest of river valley grassland. | 3, inc. Water Level Supplement |
| 5. | To maintain the landscape character through appropriate management of characteristic elements, such as heathland, river valley grassland and pine lines. | All |
| 6. | To protect archaeological and historic features. | All |
| 7. | To maintain and enhance the nature conservation and landscape interest of small-scale native woodland. | Woodland |
Background to the ESA
- The ESA extends over 94,430 hectares and includes one of the most extensive areas of sandy heath in lowland England. It straddles the county boundary of western Suffolk and Norfolk, and a very small part of Cambridgeshire. The combination of light soils, a continental climate and associated land-use history form an environment that is unique in Britain. Current farming in the area is predominantly large scale with many farmers committed to high value production, including field vegetables and outdoor pigs. The livestock farming tends to be concentrated in the hands of a reducing number of specialist producers and graziers, with few being able to make much use of the low productivity heathland grazing.
- The central plateau is characterised by intensively cropped arable land, interspersed with a fragmented network of internationally important lowland heaths which provide valuable habitats for a diversity of flora and fauna. Line and belts of Scots pines are an important landscape feature, whilst the large-scale Forestry Commission conifer plantations dominate the background. The plateau is dissected by a number of shallow river valleys, with grassland which is commonly used for extensive grazing. Mixed cropping is more common to the east, whilst the fenland landscapes to the west are typically in arable production. The area is internationally recognised for its wealth of archaeological interest, ranging from prehistoric earthworks to more recent buildings and structures.
- From the 1950s the Breckland heaths came under increasing threat from agricultural intensification and from the planting of large areas of conifer plantations. The increased availability of irrigation, agrochemicals and new crop cultivars enabled farmers to convert many hectares of infertile heathland to arable use. There seemed every prospect that this would continue and that without some form of intervention the distinctive character of the 'Brecks' area would be lost.
- This is a 'part-farm' scheme which started in 1988. The area was increased by 430 ha when the revised scheme was introduced in 1998. Overall uptake at the end of 1998 was just over 6,700 hectares.
All land
Scheme Prescriptions
- Maintain hedges and hedgerow trees using traditional methods.
- Maintain ponds, reedbeds and sedgebeds.
- Maintain existing ditches in rotation over the period of your agreement and by mechanical means, not sprays. Spoil must be levelled following cleaning out, after allowing to dry.
- Do not damage, destroy or remove any feature of archaeological or historical value or interest. Obtain written advice on the management of known and important archaeological sites and historic features on land covered by your agreement.
- Do not damage or destroy any patterned ground, meres, pingos, pits with exposed sections, fossilised dunes or similar features.
- Obtain written advice on siting design 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.
- Sheep dip must be disposed of safely. In particular, it must not be spread where it may affect areas of nature conservation value.
- You must abide by the Codes of Good Agricultural Practice 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
1.Extra costs of maintaining hedgerows using traditional methods.
2.Extra costs of maintaining ponds, reedbeds and sedgebeds.
3.Extra costs of ditch maintenance by mechanical means including spoil levelling.
Tier 1 - Heathland
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions 1-8 (All land) plus additional prescriptions set out below:-
- Maintain heathland vegetation and do not plough, level, re-seed, cultivate, roll, chain harrow or carry out any other mechanical operations.
- Hard graze the sward with livestock other than pigs or poultry, but avoid poaching, undergrazing or overgrazing.
- On known important sites for ground-nesting birds you must agree in writing a stock management programme in advance of the breeding season.
- Do not irrigate.
- Do not apply organic or inorganic fertiliser.
- Do not use lime, slag or any other substance to reduce soil acidity.
- Do not use fungicides or insecticides.
- Herbicides may only be used to control nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, ragwort, bracken or for stump treatment of cleared scrub. Infestations of these weeds must be controlled either by cutting or by herbicides. Apply herbicides by wick applicator or spot treatment.
- Any bracken control must be carried out in accordance with a written programme agreed in advance with the Project Officer and any other necessary consents obtained. This must include adequate follow-up treatment. Where bracken cannot be controlled by mechanical means and a herbicide is necessary then 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. (included in submission to EU following 1998 payment review, but not in scheme literature).
- Restrict supplementary feeding of livestock (including mineral licks) to areas and quantities agreed in advance in writing - .
- When reverting former woodland to heathland, agree in writing with the Project Officer and implement a programme which takes into account the requirements of the site in question.
- On heaths with a significant proportion of heather, agree in writing with the Project Officer and implement a Grazing Management Plan specifying the stock management policy to be applied.
Agronomic Impact
9-11.Reduction in average stocking rates or loss of alternative land use gross margin which is very variable.
12, 13,14,18 In the absence of irrigation and adequate control of rabbits for cash root crops, grazing heathland is now unlikely to be cropped with low yielding combinable agricultural crops because of ineligibility for arable area and set-aside payments. Industrial crops such as oil seed rape may be grown on some set - aside. Grazing management is very variable and usually controlled by a grazier using electric fences, usually with no rental charge incurred.
Forestry, widespread in the area, is another possible long-term land use. Several of the more interesting heaths are protected, to some extent, by SSSI designation.
16,17 Extra costs associated with control of specified weeds, including herbicide application by wick applicator or spot treatment.
19.Extra costs associated with an agreed programme for woodland reversion.
20.Extra costs of implementing a Grazing Management Plan on heather rich heaths.
This Tier also incurs the additional costs associated with the All land prescriptions.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Income Lost | Nil | |
| Costs Saved | Nil | |
| Extra Costs | ||
| Weed Control | 18.0 | |
| Hedgerow Maintenance | 2.2 | |
| Forage Costs | 1.1 | |
| Water Supply | 37.8 | |
| Heath Restoration | 5.1 | |
| Livestock rental to grazier | 25.0 | |
| Sub-total | 132.3 | |
| Extra Income | 0.0 | |
| Total | 132.3 | |
| Income Forgone | 132.3 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 3,750 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £132.3/ha
- Current payment rate
- £125/ha.
- Level of incentive
- 3.1%
Tier 2 - Reversion to heathland
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions 1-8 plus additional prescriptions set out below:-
- Cease arable production immediately after harvesting any crop already in the ground or cease grassland production in accordance with an agreed written reversion programme.
- Within 12 months of the start of the agreement, begin an agreed written programme of reversion to heathland which in most cases will include all of the following operations and requirements:
- Plough the land.
- Establish a low productivity grass sward by a date agreed in writing with the Project Officer using suitable native grass species and sown at the rate of 10 kg/ha (9 lbs/acre) or as otherwise agreed. Agree in writing with the Project Officer before purchase the seed mix to be used. Seed of native origin and local provenance should be used wherever the Ministry considers it appropriate.
- Do not apply any organic or inorganic fertiliser.
- Do not apply fungicides or insecticides.
- Herbicides may be used only to control nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock or ragwort. Infestations of these weeds must be controlled either by cutting or by herbicides. Apply herbicides by wick applicator or spot treatment.
- Do not use lime, slag or any other substance to reduce the acidity of the soil.
- Restrict supplementary feeding of livestock (including mineral licks) to areas and quantities agreed in writing in advance.
- After establishment, the sward must be managed by grazing or cutting or a combination of the two. The sward may be cut for hay or silage, but if so the cuttings must be removed and the aftermath must be grazed.
- Following completion of the agreed reversion programme you must follow all of the Tier 1 prescriptions (9-20).
Agronomic Impact
21.Loss of arable (or livestock) gross margin, with some saving in fixed costs.
22.Cost of implementing an agreed programme of reversion to heathland including costs associated with the introduction of grazing livestock (assuming heath will be grazed by graziers with no payment either way).
23.Costs of following Tier 1 prescriptions.
This Tier also incurs the additional costs associated with the All land prescriptions.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Income lost | ||
| Arable Gross Margin | 425.7 | |
| Sub-total | 425.7 | |
| Costs saved | ||
| Fixed Costs | 115.1 | |
| Interest on Working re: arable | 9.2 | |
| Sub-total | 124.3 | |
| Extra costs | ||
| Weed Control | 18.0 | |
| Hedgerow Maintenance | 3.2 | |
| Heathland Reversion: Establishment | 32.3 | |
| Equipment | 38.0 | |
| Sub-total | 91.6 | |
| Extra Income | Nil | |
| Total | 517.3 | 124.3 |
| Income Forgone | 392.9 | 439.6 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 500 hectares
- Income forgone
- £393/ha
- Current payment rate
- £375/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
Tier 3 - River valley grassland
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions 1-8 plus additional prescriptions set out below:-
- Maintain river valley grassland and do not plough, level, re-seed or cultivate the land. You may use a chain harrow or roller but not between 31 March and 1 July.
- Graze with livestock other than pigs or poultry but avoid poaching, undergrazing or overgrazing.
- Do not cut grass before 1 July.
- Do not apply any inorganic fertilisers.
- Do not apply sewage sludge, slurry, pig or poultry manure.
- Do not apply more than your existing application rate of farmyard manure and, in any event, do not apply more than 12.5 tonnes per hectare (5 tons per acre) of farmyard manure in any three year period. 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 a watercourse.
- Do not use fungicides or insecticides.
- Herbicides may be used only to control nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock or ragwort. Infestations of these weeds must be controlled either by cutting or by herbicides. Apply herbicides by wick applicator or spot treatment.
- Do not use lime, slag or any other substance to reduce soil acidity without prior written approval.
- Do not install field under-drainage. Do not sub-soil or mole drain.
- Do not substantially modify the existing drainage system to improve drainage.
- Where ditch water levels are within your control, you must maintain existing water levels and ensure that ditches at no time dry out completely.
- Restrict supplementary feeding of livestock (including mineral licks) to areas and quantities agreed in advance in writing.
Agronomic Impact
24, 26,27,28,29,32,33,36 Reduction in average stocking rates, in this very limited area, which are very variable. Usually these do not represent the potential (either within or outside the ESA prescriptions). The few areas utilised as part of a dairy enterprise for which income is forgone, would incur a greater loss.
31.Extra costs associated with control of specified weeds, including herbicide application by wick applicator or spot treatment.
35.Extra costs associated with maintaining water levels in ditches.
This Tier also incurs the additional costs associated with the All land prescriptions.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain | |
| Income Lost | |||
| Reduced Livestock System GM | 260.9 | ||
| Sub-total | 268.7 | ||
| Costs Saved | |||
| Forage Costs | 101.8 | ||
| Interest on Working Capital: Stock | 29.6 | ||
| Interest on Working Capital: Forage | 4.2 | ||
| Labour costs | 37.8 | ||
| Sub-total | 173.4 | ||
| Extra Costs | |||
| Water Management | 20.5 | ||
| Hand application of herbicides | 18.0 | ||
| Ditch Maintenance | 21.6 | ||
| Hedge Maintenance | 10.7 | ||
| Sub-total | 72.0 | ||
| Extra Income | |||
| Livestock quota leasing | 9.3 | ||
| Extensification Premium | 29.0 | ||
| Sub-total | 38.3 | ||
| Total | 332.1 | 211.7 | |
| Income Forgone | 121.2 | ||
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 2,850 hectares
- Income forgone
- £121/ha
- Current payment rate
- £130/ha
- Level of Incentive
- 7%
Water level supplement
Scheme Prescriptions
- Agree in writing with the Project Officer and implement an in-field Water Management Plan. This may include the creation, re-instatement and management of ditches and foot drains.
- Maintain ditch water levels within 15cm (6 inches) of ground level from 15 March until 30 June.
- Begin to raise ditch water levels to the 15 March to 30 June level no later than 1 March.
- Do not apply any organic or inorganic fertiliser or manure.
- From 1 May until 30 June do not exceed a grazing density of 1.4 Livestock Units (LU) per hectare and do not cause poaching, over-grazing or under-grazing.
- Do not graze with sheep before 1 June.
Agronomic Impact
38-39.Reduction in average stocking density of Tier 3 livestock system.
40-42.Additional costs involved in removal of livestock and provision of alternative feed when land is in an unsuitable condition for grazing or prescriptive limitations on grazing may also apply.
37,38, 39.Additional costs associated with water control and implementation of Water Management Plan.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Income Lost | ||
| Livestock Gross Margin | 52.4 | |
| Leased Ewe Quota | 1.2 | |
| Extensification Premium | 7.0 | |
| Sub-total | 60.6 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Interest on Working Capital | 4.0 | |
| Fixed Costs - Labour | 8.6 | |
| Sub-total | 12.6 | |
| Extra Costs | ||
| Water Control: Capital | 2.0 | |
| Maintenance | 6.5 | |
| Labour | 14.0 | |
| Sub-total | 22.5 | |
| Extra Income | ||
| Total | 83.1 | 12.7 |
| Income forgone | 70.4 | 70.2 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 100 hectares
- Income forgone
- £70/ha
- Current payment rate
- £70/ha
- Level of Incentive
- 0%
Tier 4A - Uncropped wildlife strips
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions 1-8 plus additional prescriptions set out below:-
- Cease production on a strip of land 6m or 12m wide at the edge of a field used for arable cropping. The strip must be taken from existing arable land or be an uncropped wildlife strip under an existing ESA agreement.
- All strips must be cultivated not more than once per year and not less than once every two years to create a seedbed. The operation must be carried out during the period 31 July to the following 31 March.
- Do not apply to the strip any of the following:-
- Organic or inorganic fertiliser.
- Lime, slag or any other substance to reduce the acidity of the soil.
- Fungicides or insecticides.
- Herbicides except to control nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock or ragwort. Infestations of these weeds must be controlled either by cutting or herbicides. Herbicides must be applied by wick applicator or spot treatment.
- Control sterile brome by mechanical or chemical means. If chemical control is proposed, agree in writing a control programme.
- Do not use the strips as access tracks or materially damage them by machinery or other means.
- Do not irrigate the strip.
- Do not sow grass or other seed in the strip.
- You may regularly cultivate and apply herbicides to a one metre strip on the edge of the strip adjacent to the cropped area.
Agronomic Impact
43.Loss of arable gross margin from field margins.
44-50.Extra costs of cultivation and management of headland strips.
This Tier also incurs the additional costs associated with the All land prescriptions.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Income Lost | ||
| Average Barley Gross Margin | 512.1 | |
| Sub-total | 512.1 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Fixed Costs | 117.2 | |
| Working Capital Interest | 10.1 | |
| Sub-total | 127.3 | |
| Extra Costs | ||
| Hedgerow Maintenance | 2.2 | |
| Management of Strip | 76.7 | |
| Sub-total | 78.9 | |
| Total | 590.9 | 127.3 |
| Income forgone | 463.7 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 275 hectares
- Income forgone
- £463.7/ha
- Current payment rate
- £370/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
Tier 4B - Conservation headlands
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions 1-8 plus additional prescriptions set out below:-
- Do not apply any insecticides to the strip except between 31 August and the following 15 March.
- Do not use herbicides to control broad-leaved weeds, other than where cleavers are a problem, in which case spot treatment only may be used. The use of herbicides to control grass weeds must be agreed in writing with the Project Officer.
Agronomic Impact
51 - 52Loss of arable gross margin from field margins, including savings in pesticide variable costs, resulting from restrictions in insecticide and herbicide use.
Extra clearing and drying costs associated with poor grain sample from conservation headlands.
Effect of this prescription is very variable and although research work by the Game Conservancy Council indicates an income effect in the range of £70-£140/hectare, this work was carried out in areas which differ significantly from Breckland.
Other arable cropping assumptions as for Tiers 2 and 4A.
This Tier also incurs the additional costs associated with the All land prescriptions.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Income lost | ||
| Arable Gross Margin | 63.0 | |
| Sub-total | 63.0 | |
| Costs saved | ||
| Fixed Costs | 15.2 | |
| Interest on working capital | 0.9 | |
| Sub-total | 16.1 | |
| Extra costs | ||
| Hedgerow Maintenance | 2.0 | |
| Weed control | 25.0 | |
| Fixed costs | 25.9 | |
| Sub-total | 53.1 | |
| Extra Income | 0.0 | |
| Total | 116.1 | 16.1 |
| Income forgone | 100.0 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 125 hectares
- Income forgone
- £100/ha
- Current payment rate
- £110/ha
- Level of Incentive
- 10%
- Justification for incentives
- The sporting benefits of traditional headland management by farmers in the area is being increasingly acknowledged and there are significant advantages to wildlife resulting from this tier. An incentive element is necessary to ensure that the target is achieved.
Tier 4C - Targeted arable reversion to grassland
Management Prescriptions
- On eligible land within either of the following categories, cease arable production and within 12 months establish a grass sward. Agree in writing with the Project Officer before purchase the seed mix to be used. Seed of native origin and local provenance should be used wherever the Ministry considers it appropriate:
- Important archaeological sites
- Adjoining wetland areas (including fen, reedbed and wet grassland sites)
- On grassland reverted from arable, do not exceed an annual average stocking level of 1.4 LU per hectare.
- Following completion of grassland establishment, follow all the Tier 3 prescriptions (24-36)
Agronomic Impact
53.Loss of arable system gross margin, with some potential saving in fixed costs. It was is anticipated that the GM loss would be variable when this tier was introduced. for this new tier. High output arable cropping might occupy some high value archaeological sites sites (including cast roots with irrigation) with a large variation in size and location. Most wetland areas will have more constraints on their arable production potential and be more suited to grassland management.
53-54. Extra costs of grassland establishment and the provision of fencing and water supplies for grazing livestock management.
54-55. Additional gross margin from grazing livestock system or grazing rental income.
- Additional costs associated with livestock management.
- Economic consequences on same basis as for Tier 3 prescriptions.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Income lost | ||
| Arable System Gross Margin | 466.2 | |
| Sub-total | 466.2 | |
| Costs saved | ||
| Working Capital Interest | 10.6 | |
| Fixed Costs | 115.1 | |
| Sub-total | 125.3 | |
| Extra costs | ||
| Weed Control | 18.0 | |
| Ditch Maintenance | 22.7 | |
| Hedgerow Maintenance | 6.5 | |
| Grassland Establishment | 33.3 | |
| Fencing | 40.0 | |
| Sub-total | 120.5 | |
| Extra income | ||
| Grassland Rental | 30.0 | |
| Sub-total | 30.0 | |
| Total | 586.7 | 155.3 |
| Income forgone | 431.4 | 478.0 |
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Income lost | ||
| Arable System Gross Margin | 639.0 | |
| Sub-total | 639.0 | |
| Costs saved | ||
| Working Capital Interest | 12.9 | |
| Fixed Costs | 117.0 | |
| Sub-total | 130.0 | |
| Extra costs | ||
| Weed Control | 18.0 | |
| Grassland Establishment | 33.3 | |
| Fencing | 57.2 | |
| Sub-total | 108.6 | |
| Extra income | ||
| Grassland Rental | 30.0 | |
| Sub-total | 30.0 | |
| Total | 747.6 | 160.0 |
| Income Forgone | 587.5 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- Wetland - 100 hectares
- Archaeological sites - 100 hectares
- Income forgone -
- Wetland - £431/ha
- Archaeological sites - £587.5/ha
- Current payment rate -
- Wetland - £300/ha
- Archaeological sites/ha - £500 per hectare
- Level of incentive
- N/A
Tier 4D Winter stubbles
Scheme Prescriptions
- Provide an area of cereal or linseed stubble, which must remain undisturbed between harvest and the following 1 March in any year. After 1 March there will be no restriction on the subsequent use of the land.
- Do not use insecticides or herbicides between crop harvest and 1 March the following year.
- Do not sow any cover crop unless agreed in writing with the Project Officer.
- You must abide by the Codes of Good Agricultural Practice 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
56.Reduced arable system gross margin resulting from switch from winter to spring cropping, including possible yield reduction and poorer establishment due to delayed drilling.
Cost savings associated with change to spring cropping i.e. reduced drying costs and interest on working capital. Farm machinery and labour resources available to take on more arable field work in the spring might be limited and require additional input from a contractor.
57.Potential additional costs of pesticide inputs to adjacent crops at greater risk from uncontrolled pests, diseases and weeds in untreated winter stubble. The increased risk of barley yellow dwarf virus is of particular concern in Breckland, which has yet to be evaluated for this new tier.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Income lost | ||
| Winter Barley Gross Margin | 524.7 | |
| Sub-total | 524.7 | |
| Costs saved | ||
| Interest on Working Capital | 3.7 | |
| Grain Drying | 2.0 | |
| Sub-total | 6.3 | |
| Extra costs | ||
| Contractor | 6.5 | |
| Sub-total | 6.5 | |
| Extra income | ||
| Spring Barley Gross Margin | 424.8 | |
| Sub-total | 424.8 | |
| Total | 531.2 | 430.5 |
| Income forgone | 100.7 |
- Uptake targets to January 2002
- 1,250 hectares
- Income forgone
- £100/ha
- Current payment rate
- £100/ha
- Level of incentive
- N/A
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 in Tiers 1, 2 and 3 must be entered into this woodland tier. Other woodland not on or adjacent to your agreement land may be entered at the discretion of MAFF.
Agronomic Impact
The prescriptions for this tier have the following implications with a significant economic consequence.
60.Positive management actions of varying descriptions will need to be undertaken over the life of the agreement.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| 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
- 15 hectares
- 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