This is a capital item which will help to bring features on designated sites into favourable condition. It will help vegetation to recover, where it has been affected by erosion due to the activity of rabbits. The types of vegetation that are most likely to be at risk include sand dune, machair and grassland. There may also be cases where geological features are at risk.
You must carry out a control programme to control the rabbits. The programme should be based on live trapping with fen or box traps, gassing with moisture-activated compounds and/or shooting and lamping methods.
What you can do
You must agree a management plan with SNH and submit this with your application.
The management plan must detail;
- the current condition of the special feature, how the condition of these features is being put at risk by burrowing animals and the outcomes the proposal will deliver;
- a photographic record of the current condition of the site and burrows;
- a 1:10,000 OS scale map showing the area containing active burrows and proposed locations of control devices;
- six figure grid references listing the location of control effort;
- an estimate of the density and numbers of burrowing animals at the start and end of the programme;
- the methods that will be used to control rabbit populations(s) and an assessment of the positive effect on each of the special features;
- the most appropriate timing for the control activity including number of control devices to be deployed; and
- any proposed collaboration with neighbouring land managers;
The work must be carried out in a legal and humane manner.
You must comply with all relevant General Licences and the BASC Codes of Practice on Shooting, Lamping and Trapping of Pest Mammals and birds.
You may apply to undertake this item on, or adjacent to, SSSI and Natura sites where their special features are in, or are at risk of falling into unfavourable condition due to the levels of burrowing activity. You should target your effort where it will give most benefit to the SSSI or Natura features.
This item will not be available to address the requirements of GAEC, but it will support works required to bring features into favourable condition where this work is over and above the requirements of GAEC.
On completion of the works, you must submit a report, which must include the following:
- a photographic record showing the condition of the site following completion.
Eligible costs include labour and running costs associated with shooting, trapping or gassing net of any income from the sale of burrowing animal carcasses. You must agree the eligible costs, with your case officer providing details of the work required and a breakdown of the estimated costs.
Payment Rate/Actual Cost
We will make a variable rate capital payment of up to 100% of eligible costs, depending on the requirement to allow the project to go ahead. The maximum payment for undertaking the control programme is £5,616.44.
You may claim for what is agreed in your contract. You can only claim payment in the year, or years, stated in your Schedule of Works. Interim claims will be considered. Each payment will be paid in arrears.
Claims must be supported by an invoice or other evidence of the work. Where you have sold rabbits or rabbit carcasses generated by the control programme, you must submit the sale receipts with your claim. Please see the claims guidance for information about how and when to claim; referring to the sections about Actual Cost Capital Items.
Where own labour or vehicles are used please refer to the guidance on payment rates.
Please also note that Machinery and/or Labour timesheets must be completed where own machinery or labour is used.