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MANAGEMENT OF SPECIES RICH AREAS

(a) Management of Species Rich Grassland (Rural Priorities)

Objective

To encourage the growth and spread of flowering plants and other species in unimproved grassland, which act as a food supply for insects and a seed source to ensure the continuation of the species. Biodiversity Action Plan ( BAP) species that may benefit include Nightjar, Skylark, Corn Bunting, Marsh Fritillary, Pearl Bordered Fritillary and Great Yellow Bumblebee, Northern Brown Argus and Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth.

Scope and actions

Grazing levels must be managed to create a sward at a range of heights, including some short grassland and some dense tussocks, which will suit a wide variety of plants and invertebrates.

The sward should be at its longest in the summer and should be shorter in the spring and autumn when most grassland species germinate.

In areas where Corn Bunting breed, the plan should require that the site must not be mown or grazed from 16 April until 15 August inclusive.

Where grazing is impractical, the grassland should be cut once between mid-July and mid-August to a height between 5 and 10 cm, and once again in the autumn or the following spring. A single cut is usually not sufficient to harvest the year's growth, so a second cut is required to mimic the effect of aftermath grazing on a hay meadow. Cuttings should be turned in the field in order to allow seed to drop and must then be removed or they will smother the underlying vegetation.

A livestock management and grazing regime will be set out in a grazing plan agreed with the Scottish Ministers. The grazing plan will reflect the specific biodiversity requirements of the site and may be subject to change as the site develops. It will identify the grassland communities that will be managed, the area that will be managed, the outcome that will be achieved and how it will be achieved. Evidence to support the management proposed in the grazing plan must accompany the application, for example, a reference to advisory material produced by a recognised conservation organisation.

No fertilisers, slurry, farmyard manure, pesticides or lime may be applied. However, spot treatment for injurious weeds will be allowed. The site must not be used for supplementary feeding.

Agri-environment Baseline

Amounts of support

The payment rate has been calculated on the basis of additional cost and income forgone from the commitment made. Hectarage limits apply.

Payment rate €162.06/ha

Support will also be available toward the cost of certain associated capital items.

(b) Bracken Management Programme for Habitat Enhancement (Rural Priorities)

Objective

To manage bracken where this will enhance an existing habitat, prevent loss of habitat or benefit associated species. To prevent the loss, to bracken, of habitats of conservation value, including heathland and grassland, and restore, enhance or maintain their open nature. This will encourage the regeneration of characteristic native plants and provide breeding and feeding grounds for associated wildlife. Some BAP species that may benefit: Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Northern Brown Argus, Juniper, Slender Scotch Burnet, Black Grouse and Skylark.

Scope and actions

Applicants must prepare and implement a systematic programme of treatment and follow-up actions as specified within a Bracken Management Plan ( BMP) (to be submitted with the application), which should describe the following, or show on a map as appropriate:

• The habitat of conservation value which will benefit from the bracken management
• The extent of the bracken
• The density of the bracken cover
• The area of bracken to be actively managed
• The type of management proposed (eradication or control or no interference) and the treatments proposed to achieve this, including follow-up action
• Any sensitive/buffer zones where there should be no bracken control
• Where eradication or control is proposed, the vegetation expected to replace it.

A 1:10,000 scale map should be used where required.

Buffer Zones

The BMP must identify the locations of sensitive areas and appropriate buffer zones, including the following:

• Where plant or animal species of conservation value are present and are likely to be damaged by the control method e.g. ferns damaged by spraying, or nesting birds damaged by mechanical control
• In gullies or steep slopes where regeneration of more desirable vegetation will be difficult or impossible to achieve and soil erosion may result
• Close to ponds, lochs or watercourses, if chemical control is proposed
• Where there is a well-developed woodland flora e.g. bluebells, under the bracken canopy
• Archaeological features which might be damaged by mechanical control.

An additional payment is available for primary treatment of bracken as a capital item, where the need for more intensive initial control methods has been identified within the BMP. Primary treatment must be carried out in year 1 of a bracken management programme.

If chemical control is proposed, applicants must seek consent from the appropriate bodies including SEPA, the local water authority, SNH and the local authority environmental services, having regard to required periods of notice. Further details of requirements will be provided.

If mechanical eradication of bracken is proposed, cutting or crushing must be carried out three times per year, at appropriate stages during the growing season.

Description and justification of the different types of commitments, based on their expected environmental impact in relation to environmental needs and priorities.

Bracken invasion is a threat to a wide range of habitats, including those on designated sites, whilst at the same time it can be a valuable habitat in its own right. This measure will encourage appropriate management to enhance, or prevent the loss of, habitats including heathland and grassland.

Geographical targeting

Areas where the management of bracken will enhance an existing habitat of conservation value.

Agri-environment Baseline

Amounts of support

The payment rate has been calculated on the basis of additional cost and income forgone from the commitment made.

Payment Rate €40.88/ha

(c) Creation and Management of Species Rich Grassland (Rural Priorities)

Objective

To convert arable or restore improved or semi-improved grassland to species diverse grassland, to increase the diversity of flowering plants and other species, to create a habitat and feeding area for a variety of invertebrates, birds and mammals.

Scope and actions

To create a new grassland sward beneficiaries must:

• Destroy any existing grassland cover and carry out an agreed programme to establish a new sward. This may include measures to reduce fertility and address weed problems; and
• Sow the site with a low productivity grass and herb mix agreed with Scottish Ministers to create a new sward; or

To restore an existing semi-improved grassland sward beneficiaries must:

• Create a short sward by cutting or grazing;
• Create 50% bare ground by light mechanical disturbance such as raking, harrowing or scarifying; and
• Sow a low productivity grass and herb mix agreed with the Scottish Ministers on the bare areas.

And for both:

• Seed of local provenance should be used wherever possible; and
• A livestock management and grazing regime must be set out in a grazing plan to be agreed with Scottish Ministers.

Grasslands that are suitable for the restoration option will still have some diversity of grasses and flowers. There must be at least 3 indicator species of potential for restoration from the following list:

Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium), Lady's Smock ( Cardamine praetensis), Marsh Thistle ( Cirsium palustre), Tufted Hair-grass ( Deschampsia cespitosa), Wavy Hair-grass ( Deschampsia flexuosa), Cat's-ear ( Hypochaeris radicata), Wood-rush ( Luzula spp.), Black Medick ( Medicago lupulina), Selfheal ( Prunella vulgaris), Common Sorrel ( Rumex acetosa), Gorse ( Ulex europaeus), Germander Speedwell ( Veronica chamaedrys).

Agri-environment Baseline

Amounts of support

The payment rate has been calculated on the basis of additional cost and income forgone from the commitment made. Hectarage limits apply.

Payment Rate €326.41/ha

Support will also be available toward the cost of certain associated capital items.

(d) Management of Habitat Mosaics (Rural Priorities)

Description

Maintain and enhance in-bye areas of the farm where a mosaic of habitats occur, which in turn will provide improved habitats for birds, small mammals and invertebrates. This option will also have the benefits of reducing the need for additional fencing and the creation of compartmentalised areas where the implementation of a grazing regime becomes impractical. Some BAP species that may benefit include the Song Thrush, Bullfinch, Grey Partridge, Brown Hare, Pipistrelle Bat, Pearl Bordered Fritillary, Northern Brown Argus, Marsh Fritillary and Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth.

Scope and actions

• A livestock management and grazing regime should be set out in a plan to be agreed with the Scottish Ministers. The grazing plan must identify and reflect the specific biodiversity requirements of the site, and identify the biodiversity outcomes for the mosaic. The grazing plan may be subject to change as the site develops.
• No fertilisers, slurry, farm yard manure, pesticides or lime should be applied, although spot treatment for injurious weeds will be allowed.
• The site must not be used for supplementary feeding, apart from where improved grass is present and the feeding could be undertaken on these areas, and there is benefit to the rest of the habitats in doing so. The details of any supplementary feeding must be included and justified in the grazing plan.
• Evidence to support the management proposed in the grazing plan must accompany the application e.g. a letter of support from, or a reference to advisory material produced by a recognised conservation organisation.

Description and justification of the different types of commitments, based on their expected environmental impact in relation to environmental needs and priorities

Support to maintain a mosaic of traditional semi-natural habitats on farmland that contributes to biodiversity and landscape diversity of an area.

Geographical targeting

An area supporting a range of habitats forming a mosaic, which could include wetland, wet grassland, species-rich grassland, unimproved grassland, semi-improved grassland, tall herb communities, scrub, coastal heath, scattered pockets of woodland and wood pasture and limited improved grassland, where it is impractical to draw up/implement a management plan for the separate habitats.

Agri-environment Baseline

Amounts of support

The payment rate has been calculated on the basis of additional cost and income forgone from the commitment made. Hectarage limits apply.

Payment Rate €151.84/ha

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