Introduction
The aim of this Option is to provide protection for the Corn Buntings.
What this will achieve
This Option will create or maintain the conditions essential for Corn Buntings to breed successfully. Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species that may benefit include the Brown Hare. Other important bird species that may benefit include Curlew and Meadow Pipit.
What you can do
Requirements
- areas of cover suitable for Corn Buntings to nest and raise broods will be established by excluding stock from hay or silage fields from 1 May
- these areas must be cut but cutting must be delayed until after 1 August to ensure that the majority of chicks are old enough to escape from the mower
- to minimise the risk of injury to young birds, hay and silage must be cut in a wildlife-friendly manner. This is not required for Corn Buntings but it may help other species, e.g. Grey Partridge
- the field must not be rolled, harrowed or grazed from 1 May until after the field has been mown. Where ground nests are present before 1 May, the nests should be marked and avoided
- A strip of uncut grass 2m wide must be left around the field boundary and pesticides must not be applied to this strip.
Who can apply
All land managers within the breeding distribution of Corn Buntings in East Scotland, Uists and Borders are eligible to apply for this Option.
Eligibility criteria
Only fields that are used for hay or silage are eligible.
Land receiving payments for similar management under other agri-environment schemes is not eligible under this Option.
What costs could be supported
For a comprehensive list of Capital Items click here. Any cost claimed must be fully justified. The following are examples of what may be claimed:
When completing your Proposal, you can select the appropriate capital item(s) from the dropdown list of standard cost capital items for this Option.
In addition to the above capital items, financial support of up to 100% of eligible actual costs is available in respect of the following:
Please note that these capital items will not appear in the dropdown list of Standard Cost capital items for this Option and will need to be entered manually in the box for Actual Cost capital items. Only costs for the types of capital works listed above should be entered in the Actual Cost capital items box for this Option. Any other costs entered cannot be considered for funding.
To ensure value for money we require you to provide 2 competitive quotes for any capital items applied for which are based on actual cost. If, however, you are seeking grant support towards something so specialised it is only available through 1 source then we would accept 1 quote. Please see the guidance on quotes and estimates for more information.
Rate of support
This is a 5-year commitment. We will pay you £224.48 per hectare per year. We will pay at the end of each year.
Inspection/verification
The inspector will check the requirements (as detailed above under 'what you can do') of the Option are being met, by a visual assessment on the day of inspection.
Beneficiaries must comply with the requirements of cross compliance and the minimum requirements for fertiliser and plant protection products. You must also comply with the requirements to avoid damaging any features of historic or archaeological interest, and follow Scottish Ministers' guidance for the protection of such areas or features (detailed in links below).
The following is a brief overview of the inspection procedures, for a full explanation please see links below:
Inspectors will check:
- Field has not been rolled, harrowed or grazed from 1 May
- Field is mown after 1 August in a wildlife-friendly manner
- Presence of 2 m uncut strip(s)
- Claimed capital items have been completed to approved amounts and scheme standards.
List of links to relevant technical guidance