CAPITAL ACTIVITY

SPECIFICATION

1. Bracken eradication - primary treatment required in the first or second year of a Bracken Eradication Programme on any area of land identified in a moorland management plan and the BEP Management Plan with SNH-approved map

i. primary treatment by chemical means shall be carried out at the full frond stage in the second or, exceptionally, first year of a five year Bracken Eradication Programme by application of a herbicide approved for this purpose.

ii. primary treatment by mechanical means shall be by cutting twice during the growing season within the first year of a 5-year BEP. If cutting is the method adopted, the programme of twice-yearly treatments shall continue for the duration of the BEP.
iii. aerial spraying may be carried out only with the prior written consent of Scottish Natural Heritage, SEPA and any other statutory consultees having regard to required periods of notice. See also Appendix 1.

2. Rhododendron Control

Rhododendron control is to be carried out by cutting or mechanical destruction.

3(a-d). Erection of a fence, gate or stile required for any management activity or which provide some other conservation benefit.

i. The construction and all materials must conform to the appropriate British standards.

ii. Except as otherwise provided, fence posts must be placed at intervals of no more than 3.5 metres, or 12 metres where high tensile wire and droppers are used.

iii. Except as otherwise provided, a fence must have a minimum of 6 line wires or 2 line wires and woven wire netting.

iv. Where fences are erected to enhance hedgerows they must be sited at least 1 metre from the centre line of the hedge.

3 (f): Erection of a scare or temporary fence or rabbit-proof netting

i. A scare fence must consist of a minimum of 2 line wires with post at intervals of not more than 6 metres.

ii. Proofing shall be carried out with galvanized wire netting. The netting shall be not less than 1.05m wide BS designation 18 and have a mesh no larger than 31mm. The top edge of the netting shall not be less than 0.9m above ground level.

iii. The netting shall be fastened to the fencing and the bottom edge of the netting shall be buried in the ground to a suitable depth or turned outward and anchored.

iv. All gates in proofed fences must also be proofed.

3 (g): Erection of Deer fence

i. Deer fences shall not be less than 1.8 metres high and have a minimum of 3 line wires and woven netting with stobs at no more than 3.5 metre intervals and 12 metre intervals with droppers every 2 metres for high tensile wire.

3(h) Marking of a Deer fence to reduce bird collision

In areas where black grouse and capercaillie occur, to make the fence more visible and thus reduce the number of collisions, use either,

i. a double strip of orange barrier netting, each strip of approximately 45 cm in width. Both strips should be secured with pig rings/wire twists at intervals of ca. 30cm on the upper and lower edges. The top of the upper strip should reach the top strand of the fence. The top of the lower strip should reach the middle strand of the fence, or

ii. other fence marking design approved by SERAD for this purpose.

3(j) Erection of post and rail fence as water gate

i. A post and rail fence erected as a water gate must have posts no more than 3 metres apart and 4 rails (70mm x 20mm).

3(k) Erection of suitable fencing to trap blowing sand and in fill previously eroded dune areas.

i. Fencing must be fixed at right angles to the prevailing wind direction and constructed of posts and rails with posts no more than 3 metres apart and 4 rails (70mm x 20mm).

4. Native-species tree planting on a site no more than 0.25ha and including individual trees in hedgerows and along water margins.

i. Planting density must not exceed one tree per 10m²; and

ii. Native species appropriate to the site must be planted

5. Installation of tree guards and stakes or self-supporting tree guards required to protect amenity or native-species tree and hedge planting.

i. The tree guards and stakes or the self-supporting tree guards must be securely fixed to protect newly planted material from damage by rodents and grazing animals.

6. Planting of marram grass into areas threatened with erosion.

i. Transplants should be harvested from areas where marram is well established and there is little danger from erosion;

ii. Plants should be established at a density of at least 9 plants per square metre; and

iii. Planting should take place in late spring or autumn.

7. Installation of a water trough required because of the management of a water margin will result in stock being denied access to traditional watering points.

i. The water trough must be a purpose made item and incorporate a ballcock to shut off the water supply; and

ii. The trough must be permanently mounted on a durable base and a stopcock must be provided to control the water supply.

8. Sowing of species rich grass.

i. Cultivation or herbicide treatment should first destroy any existing sward.

ii. A mixture consisting of no more than 85% fined leaved or non-aggressive grasses and at least 15% mixed native flowers must be sown.