Introduction

PART 1

General Information

Section 1

About the Rural Stewardship Scheme

Section 2

Eligibility

Section 3

Making an application

Section 4

Assessment of applications

Section 5

Advice?

Section 6

Payment arrangements

Section 7

Scheme rules not dealt with elsewhere in the booklet

Section 8

Consequences of Non-Compliance with Scheme Rules and Conditions

PART 2

General Environmental Requirements

Section 1

The Standard of Good Farming Practice

Section 2

General Environmental Conditions

PART 3

Eligibility Criteria and Management Requirements for Individual Scheme Options

PRESCRIPTIONS PREDOMINANTLY FOR BIRD LIFE

1.

Extensive Management of Mown Grassland for Birds

2.

Management of Open Grazed Grassland for Birds

3.

Extensive Management of Mown Grassland for Corncrakes

4.

Management of Early and Late Cover for Corncrakes

5.

Management of Wet Grassland for Waders

PRESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIES RICH AREAS

6.

Management of Species-Rich Grassland

7.

Bracken Eradication Programme for species-rich grassland, coastal or lowland heath

8.

Creation and Management of Species Rich Grassland

9.

Management of Coastal Heath

10.

Management of Lowland Heath

PRESCRIPTIONS FOR MOORLAND

11.

Moorland Management

12.

Stock Disposal

13.

Muirburn and Heather Swiping

14.

Bracken Eradication Programme for Moorland

PRESCRIPTIONS FOR WETLAND FEATURES

15.

Management of Wetland

16.

Management of Lowland Raised Bogs

17.

Creation and Management of Wetland

18.

Management of Water Margin

19.

Management of Flood Plain

PRESCRIPTIONS FOR FIELD MARGINS AND BOUNDARIES

20.

The Management of Grass Margin or Beetlebank in Arable Fields

21.

Management of Conservation Headlands

22.

Management of Extended Hedges

23.

Management of Hedgerows

PRESCRIPTIONS FOR ARABLE AREAS

24.

Introduction or Retention of Extensive Cropping

25.

Management of Cropped Machair

26.

Unharvested Crops

PRESCRIPTIONS FOR WOODLAND AND SCRUB

27.

Management of Scrub (including Tall Herb Communities)

28.

Management of Native or Semi Natural Woodland

PRESCRIPTIONS FOR HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

29.

Management of a Site of Archaeological or Historic Interest

SMALL UNIT PRESCRIPTIONS

30.

Conservation Management Plan with Special Measures for Small Units

31.

Retention or introduction of Cattle of native or traditional breed(s)

PART 4

Capital Works to benefit other Habitats and Features

Section 1.

Designed Landscapes

Section 2.

Field Boundaries

Section 3.

Black grouse breeding areas

Section 4.

Farm Ponds

PART 5

Capital Works associated with Management Options

PART 6

Supplementary information

Section 1

The Environmental Audit

Section 2

The Moorland Management Plan

Section 3

Prescriptions for Small Units

APPENDIX 1

Conditions relating to the aerial application of Asulam for bracken treatment under the Rural Stewardship Scheme

APPENDIX 2

Glossary of Terms

APPENDIX 3

Contact Details