Capital payments associated with management options
Items which are eligible when associated with Management Payments are (please select from the links below):
1. Bracken Eradication - Primary Treatment
1.1 Primary treatment of bracken is required in the first or second year of a Bracken Eradication Programme on any area of land identified in a Moorland Management Plan, Environmental Audit and the BEP Management Plan with SNH-approved map.
1.2 Treatment of bracken can be carried out by:
a. chemical means - 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;
b. mechanical means - 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.
1.3 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 Appendix IX.
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2. Fences, Gates, Stiles and Footbridges
2.1 Fences considered eligible for payments includes, stockfencing, scarefencing, deer fencing, rabbit fencing and temporary fencing.
2.2 Fencing and associated works MUST be necessary to fulfil the management requirements of habitats or protect features entered under the Rural Stewardship Scheme. Scarefencing will be eligible to protect dykes being rebuilt under the scheme, but not for other dykes on the holding.
2.3 Temporary fencing is not expected to be a common item in plans but may be applicable where seasonal control of grazing is desirable.
2.4 Electric fences, either temporary or of a permanent type, are eligible under the scheme.
2.5 Fencing to enhance hedgerows is eligible where hedges are being extended, where planting or replanting, or coppicing is occurring or where fencing will prevent stock browsing and lead to the hedge achieving a greater bulk, particularly at its base. Such a fence must be sited at least 1 metre or, in the case of extended hedges, at least 3 metres from the centre line of the hedge.
2.6 All materials and the design specifications used in the construction of these items should conform with the appropriate British Standard (BS 1722). Conventional stockfencing should consist of stobs placed at intervals of no more than 3.5m centres with a minimum of 6 line wires or 2 line wires and woven wire netting. If a high tensile pattern fence is erected, the same requirements apply to the number of line wires or netting but stobs may be placed at up to 12m centres. Scarefences must consist of a minimum of 2 line wires with stobs or other supports at intervals of not more than 6m. The use of high quality second-hand materials such as telegraph poles or railway sleepers for straining and turning posts is acceptable. All other fencing materials must be new. Where there is doubt on this issue, the claimant should be asked to present supporting receipted vouchers.
2.7 Fencing is only eligible for payment where the fence and associated works are necessary to ensure that areas proposed for management payments under the scheme require the work to be completed to enable management to be introduced or continued or conservation features requiring protection. It is in order to allow for the replacement of an existing fence at a later date in the scheme if an existing fence is not considered to be capable of remaining stockproof for the duration of the scheme.
2.8 Scarefencing alongside a rebuilt dyke consisting of 2 wires on 9 ft posts at intervals of not more than 6 metres in order to heighten the dyke against deer is considered eligible under the scheme.
2.9 Scarefencing consisting of 2 wires on metal stanchions set in the dyke at intervals of not more than 6 metres is considered eligible under the scheme.
2.10 If march fences are involved, work will only be grant aided to the applicant's level of responsibility ie if the applicant and his neighbour share a 50:50 responsibility for the fence then the total payment made under the RSS must be reduced by 50%. In such instances evidence should be provided confirming that the occupier whose land is not entered into the scheme consents to the restoration and maintenance of the fence, as well as to any necessary rights of access which may be necessary to carry out the work or inspect the work.
2.11 Where an existing fence is replaced, the old fence must be dismantled and the materials removed from the site.
2.12 A single step stile or a double step stile may be erected as a fence crossing, while a stepladder stile is commonly used for dyke crossings. Stepladder stiles should normally be angled at between 45º and 90º to the top rail. Alternative designs in keeping with local traditions are acceptable, but must be safe and of sound construction.
2.13 All gates should be correctly fitted with hangings and latches. The use of wire, rope, baler twine etc is not acceptable. Advisers can provide designs suitable for gates for the disabled.
2.14 Rabbit 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. 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. All gates in proofed fences must also be proofed. 'BS designation 18' refers to the 31mm x 900mm x 18 (i.e. type 18 mesh) minimum specification to provide proofing against rabbits and hares described in the British Standard BS 1722 Part 2.
2.15 The minimum specifications required for permanent stockproof electrified fencing are as follows:
2.15.1 All materials used in the construction of a permanent electric fence, including installation of the controller, should conform to the appropriate British Standard. The use of high quality second-hand materials such as telegraph poles or railway sleepers for straining and turning posts is acceptable. All other fencing materials must be new.
2.15.2. High tensile galvanised wire (2.50 mm or 12 ½ gauge) with posts placed at intervals of no more than 10 metre centres with a minimum of 3 line wires. The number of line wires required will be a function of the class of stock to be grazing the adjoining field. Where there is to be mixed grazing with sheep, cattle and perhaps calves at foot, four or five line wires will be necessary to ensure that the fence is stockproof.
2.15.3. Barbed wires must not be used in electrified fences.
2.15.4. Only high quality insulators must be used.
2.15.5. Electric fencing should terminate at each side of a burn or river and the gap should be closed with a conventional barrier.
2.15.6. Warning notices shall be displayed on all electric fences (including conventional fences or supports which carry bare lead wires) alongside roads and rights of way where the public has access. Warning notices shall be attached to the fences at intervals not exceeding 100 m and at both ends of the fences at the gateways. Electric fences running alongside and close to public roads also require the approval of the Local Authority. The warning signs shall be at least 210 mm x 150 mm in size. The basic colour on both sides of the warning signs shall be yellow. Both sides shall bear a flash in a triangle and a warning inscription outside the triangle. The flash and inscription shall be indelible. The labelling shall be black and at least 25 mm high.
2.15.7. Electric operated fence controllers shall comply with the British Standard and must be permanently fixed in a dry weather-proof building or some other suitable enclosure and be installed so that as far as is reasonable practicable, they are free from the risk of mechanical damage or other unauthorised interference. Only one controller shall be connected to an electric fencing system.
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3. Erection of Deer fence
3.1 Deer fences shall not be less than 1.8 metres high and have a minimum of 3 line wires and woven wire netting with stobs at no more than 3.5 metres intervals and 12 metre intervals with droppers every 2 metres for high tensile wire.
3.2 Payment towards the cost of deer fencing the perimeter of a croft or farm may be made provided (a) the costs are no more than the cost of deer fencing the individual areas of habitat requiring protection, and (b) the individual habitats requiring protection are (or will be) fenced at no extra cost to exclude agricultural livestock.
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4. Marking of Deer fence to reduce bird collision
(See para 18 under Black Grouse Breeding Areas)
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5. Native-species tree planting on a site no more than 0.25ha and including individual trees in hedgerows and along water margins.
5.1 Planting density must not exceed one tree per 10 square metres; and
5.2 Native species such as oak, ash, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, willow, alder, rowan and wild cherry appropriate to the site must be planted.
5.3 The tree planting, in terms of the number of plants, their location and species, must serve to enhance the conservation value of the site. If in doubt about the proposal, local SNH staff should be consulted.
5.4 Applicants proposing to plant trees should be strongly advised to discuss their proposals with those neighbours whose properties might be affected.
5.5 Where roadside tree planting is proposed and planting is to be within 5 metres of the edge of any made-up carriageway, the applicant should provide confirmation that the Local Highways Authority does not object to his/her proposals.
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6. Installation of tree guards and stakes or self-supporting tree guards required to protect amenity or native-species tree and hedge planting
6.1 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. If tree guards are used, applicant will not receive payments for rabbit fencing around that same area.
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7. Water Troughs
7.1 Water troughs are available to provide watering points where fencing under the management of water margin, management of species-rich grassland or management of wetland options prevents stock from having access to traditional watering points.
7.2 The water trough must be a purpose-made unit (i.e. galvanised steel, concrete, spray-moulded glass reinforced cement or polyethylene) and incorporate a ball cock to regulate the water supply in accordance with local water bylaws.
7.3 The trough must be permanently mounted on a suitable durable base with a stop cock to control the water supply.
7.4 The water supply pipe must be laid underground - an average depth of 900 mm (minimum 800 mm) is recommended to protect against frost and mechanical damage.
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8. Blocking ditches on lowland raised bog and created wetland
8.1 Block ditches at intervals using impermeable pre-formed plastic sheeting (known as plastic piling) to raise or maintain the water table at or just below the surface of the vegetation.
8.2 There are two recommended installation procedures for this technique; one to be used where the drains to be blocked are up to 5 metres wide and the other for blocking drains more than 5 metres in width. These procedures are detailed in 'Conserving bogs: the management handbook' by S Brooks and R Stoneman (Published by The Stationery Office, Edinburgh 1997). An extract from that publication is to be found at Appendix XVII.
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9. Sowing of Species Rich Grassland
9.1 Sowing of species rich grass is eligible as part of the management option "Creation and Management of Species Rich Grassland".
9.2 Any existing sward should be destroyed by cultivation or herbicide treatment.
9.3 A new sward of non-aggressive fine leaved grasses should be established together with a mixture of flowers.
9.4 The mixture should consist of no more than 85% non aggressive grasses and at least 15% mixed native flowers. The adviser should determine appropriate species relevant to the site.
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10. Planting of Marram Grass
10.1 Payments are available for planting marram grass into areas threatened with erosion.
10.2 Marram plants must be harvested from areas where marram is well established and there is little danger from erosion.
10.3 Plants should be established at a density of at least 9 plants per square metre and should take place in the late spring or autumn. Such work should be carried out in accordance with practices that have been shown to be successful locally.
10.4 Capital payments may also be made for the erection of stock fences to exclude stock from areas prone to erosion and control stock grazing.
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11. Sandblow Fencing
11.1 Payments are available for the erection of suitable fencing to trap blowing sand and infill previously eroded sand dune areas.
11.2 Fences must be fixed at right angles to the prevailing wind direction and be constructed of post and rails. Stobs must not be more than 3 metres apart with at least 4 rails. Rails should be no smaller than 70mm x 20mm.
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12. Erosion Control Plan
12.1 Put in place a 5-year programme of measures to control burrowing animals, e.g. rabbits, where this is deemed necessary in order to reduce erosion of a managed habitat and achieve the aim of a scheme management option. This capital item will normally be associated with the management option - Management of Species-rich Grassland.
12.2 A description of how the RSS applicant proposes to effect control over the lifetime of the agreement should be entered under the associated management option's 'Management Requirements' in the Environmental Audit.
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