Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Sperrins) Designation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

Amendments to the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Sperrins) Designation Order (Northern Ireland) 1994

7.  In Schedule 2 (Additional Requirements) after Part III there shall be added the following Parts—

“Part IV

As regards any Species Rich Dry Grassland which is the subject of an agreement the farmer shall comply with the relevant requirements of Schedule 1 and in addition thereto—

1.

The farmer shall ensure that the rate of application of inorganic fertiliser, organic fertiliser or any mixture thereof does not exceed 25 kilogrammes of nitrogen, 13 kilogrammes of potash, 13 kilogrammes of phosphate per hectare in any year.

2.

The farmer shall not apply any lime except with the prior written permission of the Department.

3.

The farmer shall not undertake any form of cultivation including chain harrowing or rolling during the period between 1st April and 30th June, both dates inclusive, in any year.

4.

Invasive scrub or gorse may be removed only with the prior written permission of the Department.

5.

The farmer shall not cut any grass therefrom earlier than 1st July in any year.

6.

The farmer shall locate any supplementary feeding area only in accordance with the written advice of the Department.

Part V

As regards any Species Rich Wet Grassland which is the subject of an agreement the farmer shall comply with the relevant requirements of Schedule 1 and in addition thereto—

1.   The farmer shall not permit grazing with livestock during the period between 1st January and 31st May, both dates inclusive, in any year and shall ensure that during any other part of that year any such grassland is grazed so as to avoid poaching.

2.   Where water levels in sheughs are within his control, the farmer shall maintain those levels as close as possible to bank level during the period between 1st March and 15th June, both dates inclusive, in any year.

3.   The farmer shall ensure that the rate of application of inorganic fertiliser, organic fertiliser or any mixture thereof does not exceed 25 kilogrammes of nitrogen, 13 kilogrammes of potash, 13 kilogrammes of phosphate per hectare in any year.

4.   The farmer shall not apply any lime except with the prior written permission of the Department.

5.   The farmer shall not undertake any form of cultivation including chain harrowing or rolling during the period between 1st April and 30th June, both dates inclusive, in any year.

6.   Invasive scrub or gorse may be removed only with the prior written permission of the Department.

7.   The farmer shall not cut any grass therefrom for the purpose of making hay earlier than 1st July in any year.”