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THE RURAL STEWARDSHIP SCHEME

Small Units Prescriptions

General Introduction

Almost all the habitats in our country have been modified by the activities of man. Much of the present rural landscape in Scotland was only established during the course of the last two centuries. Until the middle of the twentieth century, the speed and scale of change gave wildlife time to adjust. The adoption of more intensive husbandry methods on farms and crofts over the course of the last fifty years has caused the decline or even local extinction of some species. In order to arrest or even reverse this decline and enhance our distinctive landscapes, more farmers and crofters need to adopt environmentally friendly management practices. Such practices do not necessarily involve a return to labour-intensive 'traditional' methods.

The unique community structure of crofting lends itself to achieving results through co-operative efforts involving a plan that takes in at least the whole of a croft and preferably all the crofts within a particular township or community. For this reason, the Rural Stewardship Scheme includes two prescriptions targeted specifically at smaller units. The first option involves the creation and implementation of a detailed Conservation Management Plan for each of the units (i.e. the entire inbye and any apportionments) within a business, while the second prescription encourages the retention or re-introduction of traditional or native breeds of cattle.

The decline in cattle numbers in crofting areas in particular has consequences for conservation as cattle can bring positive benefits to the environment. Cattle can be used to control the rank growth of coarse vegetation of low conservation value, as they are not selective grazers. In addition, cattle, through the adjustment of stocking rates, can be employed to maintain any habitat from a short sward, important for the chough and marsh fritillary butterfly, through to a varied vegetation structure which supports a diverse range of invertebrates, birds and small mammals. Keeping a herd of cattle can deliver indirect benefits to wildlife. Examples of such benefits are: the shelter afforded by crops of winter keep during the Spring and early Summer to such birds as the corncrake; the provision of undigested or uneaten feed to seed-eating farmland birds; the re-cycling of nutrients through dung and the spur to regeneration by the breaking up of mats of plant litter.

Native or traditional cattle breeds and crosses are both thrifty and hardy - being naturally adapted to surviving year-round on rough pasture in poor conditions while still producing a marketable calf. The common grazings associated with the croft can be particularly important in providing the extensive pasture necessary for traditional cattle breeds. Extensive environmentally friendly cattle production on small units will be encouraged through the 'Retention or introduction of Cattle of native or traditional breed(s)' option.

What prescriptions are available?

• Conservation Management Plan with Special Measures for Small Units
• Retention or introduction of Cattle of native or traditional breed(s)

Are there any entry requirements?

The area of inbye occupied by your business must not exceed 10 hectares. You will only be eligible to take up the option, Retention or introduction of Cattle of native or traditional breed(s), if the unit in question is also the subject of a Conservation Management Plan with Special Measures for Small Units.

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