Countryside Management Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Regulation 3(2)(a)

SCHEDULE 1 General Environmental Conditions

1.  The applicant shall—

(a) prepare and follow a nutrient management plan;

(b) retain and not damage any habitat, landscape or water feature, or archaeological or heritage feature;

(c) retain existing field boundaries and not remove any hedge, tree, copses, scrub, ditch, dyke or wall or any part thereof, except with the prior written permission of the Department;

(d) maintain open drains and sheughs in accordance with the written advice of the Department;

(e) keep the eligible land free from rubbish and litter;

(f) seek the permission of the Department before undertaking work which may have a detrimental impact on any habitat, landscape feature or archaeological or heritage feature;

(g) comply with the Codes of Good Agricultural Practice for the protection of—

(i) soil(1);

(ii) air(2); and

(iii) water(3),

published by the Department;

(h) comply with the Good Farming Practice for the Environment(4) published by the Department.

2.  The applicant shall not—

(a) increase the overall stocking density of his farm business to a level above that which existed on average in the year preceding the year in which the application for grant is made unless permitted to do so by the Department to achieve environmental objectives;

(b) in any year apply nitrogen at a rate exceeding 260 kilogrammes per hectare from either organic or inorganic sources;

(c) undertake ploughing, levelling or reseeding of unimproved land, or any semi-natural grassland;

(d) apply weed control on unimproved land or any habitat other than by spot treatment or weed wiper for noxious weeds;

(e) undertake any land reclamation or install new underdrainage or substantially modify the existing drainage system;

(f) apply lime to any habitat unless with prior written approval of the Department;

(g) cause severe damage to vegetation by poaching or repeated vehicular access, (including all terrain vehicles) nor graze land with livestock in such numbers as adversely to affect the growth quality or species composition of vegetation (other than vegetation normally grazed to destruction) to a significant degree;

(h) carry out any activity or deposit on, or extract from the land, any article, material or substance in a manner likely to detract significantly from the natural beauty of the land or damage or destroy flora or fauna or materially alter the geological or physiographical features of the land;

(i) realign, dredge or dam any watercourse nor alter the water levels within any existing water feature without the prior agreement of the Department.

3.  The applicant shall during the first 5 years of an undertaking participate in a training programme approved by the Department designed to develop competencies necessary to the delivery of his obligations.

Regulations 3(4)(a) and 7(1) and (2)

SCHEDULE 2 Management Activities

Column (1)	Column (2)
Activity	Maximum Payment Rate
(a) Management of unimproved land	£30 per hectare per annum.
(b) Management of improved land	£25 per hectare per annum.
(c) Management of arable land	£25 per hectare per annum.

Regulations 3(4)(b) and 7(1)

SCHEDULE 3 Management Activities (Priority Habitats)

Column (1)	Column (2)
Activity	Maximum Payment Rate
1.  In relation to semi-natural grassland—
(a) management of species rich hay meadows;	£150 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of species rich grassland;	£110 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of species rich acid grassland of 10 hectares or less;	£70 per hectare per annum.
(d) management of species rich acid grassland of over 10 hectares up to and including 50 hectares;	£35 per hectare per annum.
(e) management of species rich acid grassland of over 50 hectares.	£20 per hectare per annum.
2.  In relation to wetlands—
(a) management of lowland wet grassland, fen, swamp, carr and reed beds;	£110 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of lowland wet grassland to enhance numbers of breeding waders.	£150 per hectare per annum.
3.  In relation to upland breeding wader sites—
(a) management of upland breeding wader sites where there is a restricted grazing period;	£75 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of upland breeding wader sites where there is a closed grazing period.	£105 per hectare per annum.
4.  In relation to moorland—
(a) management of heather moorland of 100 hectares or less;	£50 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of heather moorland over 100 hectares up to and including 200 hectares;	£25 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of heather moorland over 200 hectares;	£10 per hectare per annum.
(d) management of rough moorland grazing of 20 hectares or less;	£20 per hectare per annum.
(e) management of rough moorland grazing over 20 hectares up to and including 100 hectares;	£10 per hectare per annum.
(f) management of rough moorland£5 per hectare per annum. grazing of more than 100 hectares;	£5 per hectare per annum.
(g) reduction of number of suckler cow on heather moorland;	£250 per suckler cow removed per annum.
(h) reduction of number of ewes on heather moorland.	£30 per ewe removed per annum.
5.  In relation to lowland raised bog—
(a) management of lowland raised bog of 100 hectares or less;	£50 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of lowland raised bog of over 100 up to and including 200 hectares;	£25 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of lowland raised bog over 200 hectares.	£10 per hectare per annum.
6.  In relation to broadleaved farm woodland and farm scrub—
(a) management of broadleaved farm woodland;	£95 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of farm scrub.	£30 per hectare per annum.
7.  In relation to coastal farmland—management of coastal farmland	£80 per hectare per annum.
8.  In relation to archaeological features—
management of archaeological features.	£80 per 0·25 hectare or part thereof per annum up to 1·5 hectares and £20 per 0·25 hectare or part thereof per annum thereafter.
9.  In relation to parkland—
management of parkland.	£50 per hectare per annum.
10.  In relation to inter-drumlin loughs—
(a) management of improved land riparian to inter-drumlin loughs (including inflowing watercourses);	£45 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of unimproved land riparian to inter-drumlin loughs (including inflowing watercourses);	£40 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of buffer strips of improved land adjacent to inter- drumlin loughs;	£385 per hectare per annum.
(d) management of buffer strips of unimproved land adjacent to inter-drumlin loughs.	£345 per hectare per annum.

Regulations 3(4)(c) and 7(1)

SCHEDULE 4 Management Activities (Optional Habitats)

Column (1)	Column (2)
Activity	Maximum Payment Rate
1.  In relation to arable lands managed for wildlife—
(a) retention of winter stubble;	£50 per hectare per annum.
(b) conversion of improved land to spring cereals or oil seed rape;	£90 per hectare per annum.
(c) establishment of wild bird cover crop on improved land;	£500 per hectare per annum.
(d) establishment of wild bird cover crop on arable land;	£490 per hectare per annum.
(e) creation of a rough grass field margin;	£515 per hectare per annum.
(f) establishment of a conservation crop margin.	£100 per hectare per annum.
2.  In relation to winter feeding sites for migratory swans and geese—
(a) management of improved land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese of 5 hectares or less;	£110 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of improved land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese over 5 hectares and up to and including 25 hectares;	£55 per hectare per annum.
(c) management of improved land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese over 25 hectares;	£25 per hectare per annum.
(d) management of arable land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese of 5 hectares or less;	£195 per hectare per annum.
(e) management of arable land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese over 5 hectares and up to and including 25 hectares;	£95 per hectare per annum.
(f) management of arable land for winter feeding of migratory swans and geese over 25 hectares.	£45 per hectare per annum.
3.  In relation to lapwing breeding sites—
(a) management of improved land for lapwing breeding;	£160 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of unimproved land for lapwing breeding.	£130 per hectare per annum.
4.  In relation to traditional orchards—
(a) restoration of traditional orchards eligible for restoration;	£260 per hectare per annum.
(b) recreation of traditional orchards eligible for recreation.	£380 per hectare per annum.
5.  In relation to buffer strips adjacent to an Area of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserve, Natura 2000 site, watercourse, lake or woodland—
(a) management of a buffer strip on improved land;	£385 per hectare per annum.
(b) management of a buffer strip on unimproved land.	£345 per hectare per annum.
6.  In relation to heather regeneration—
(a) burning of heather;	£60 per hectare per annum.
(b) flailing of heather.	£45 per hectare per annum.
7.  In relation to bracken—
(a) control of bracken by tractor spraying;	£140 per hectare per annum.
(b) control of bracken by knapsack spraying.	£220 per hectare per annum.
8.  In relation to rhododendron—
control of rhododendron.	£390 per hectare per annum.
9.  In relation to scrub—
control of scrub.	£95 per hectare per annum.
10.  In relation to restoration of field boundaries—
(a) restoring 5 metres of field boundaries per hectare per year;	£40 per hectare per annum.
(b) restoring 10 metres of field boundaries per hectare per year.	£80 per hectare per annum.
11.  In relation to provision of native trees—
provision of native trees for areas less than 0.2 hectares.	£750 per hectare per annum.

Regulations 3(4)(d) and 7(1), (3) and (4)

SCHEDULE 5 Capital Activities

Column (1)	Column (2)
Activity	Maximum Payment Rate
1.  Field boundaries— (a) restoration of drystone wall;
(i) double skinned	£9·47 per square metre run
(ii) single-skinned;	£6·31 per square metre run
(b) hedge restoration;
(i) laying;	£2·55 per metre
(ii) coppicing;	£0·93 per metre
(iii) interplanting/reinstatement;	£3·05 per metre
(c) reinstating sod banks.	£2·48 per metre
2.  Stiles—
(a) erection of 3 step stone stile;	£16·83 per stile
(b) erection of a free standing timber ladder.	£34·80 per ladder
3.  Tree planting/management—
(a) tree/shrub planting;	£0·56 per plant
(b) installation of tree guard and stake;	£0·71 per tree guard and stake
(c) installation of spiral rabbit guard;	£0·18 per guard
(d) planting standard parkland trees;	£12·08 per tree
(e) tree surgery;	60% of cost approved by the Department
(f) pollarding.	60% of cost approved by the Department
4.  Orchards—
restorative pruning.	60% of cost approved by the Department
5.  Items to enhance wildlife value—
(a) installation of nest boxes;	£4·20 per box (Small) £6·00 per box (Large)
(b) installation of bat boxes;	£4·20 per box
(c) installation of red squirrel feeders.	£42·00 per feeder
6.  Structures/work to raise water levels.	60% of cost approved by the Department
7.  Creation of scrapes.	£1·25 per square metre surface area (to maximum of 100m2)
8.  Restoration of farm ponds.	60% of cost approved by the Department
9.  Provision of alternative watering sites—
(a) installation of trough;	£30·00 per trough
(b) installation of up to 150 metres of pipeline;	£0·92 per metre
(c) installation of over 150 metres of pipeline.	£0·80 per metre
10.  Restoration of traditional and heritage features—
(a) restoration of traditional farm buildings;	60% of cost approved by the Department
(b) restoration of features of historic interest;	60% of cost approved by the Department
(c) restoration of traditional gates.	£21·00 per metre (wooden) £45·00 per metre (metal) £24·00 per metre (composite)
(d) restoration of traditional pillars and posts—
(i) rebuilding pillar;	£90·00 per pillar
(ii) rebuilding pillar cap;	£18·00 per pillar cap
(iii) repointing pillar cap;	£34·00 per pillar
(iv) replastering pillar cap;	£18·00 per pillar
(v) provision of wooden post;	£13·20 per post
(vi) provision of stone post.	£60·00 per post
11.  Erection of protective fencing—
(a) 3 line strained wire;	£1·06 per metre
(b) additional line wire;	£0·08 per metre
(c) woven wire;	£1·16 per metre
(d) woven wire (heavy pattern);	£1·61 per metre
(e) proofing against rabbits and hares;	£0·88 per metre
(f) timber stiles—
(i) single step;	£11·27 per stile
(ii) double step;	£17·34 per stile
(iii) vertical stile;	£28·94 per stile
(g) protection for planting parkland trees.	£46·30 (1·8m square) per guard £75·38 (3·6m triangular) per guard £91·98 (3·6m square) per guard

Regulation 2(3)

SCHEDULE 6 Interpretation of Schedules

In Schedules 1 to 5 and this Schedule—

“arable land” means land on which cereal or oil-seed rape crops are grown;

“archeological features” means all historic or archeological sites which have been identified by the Department of the Environment in the Sites and Monuments Record;

“Area of Special Scientific Interest” means an area of land declared to be an area of special scientific interest under Part VI of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985(5);

“broadleaved farm woodland” means vegetation dominated by a minimum of 50% cover broadleaf native trees, containing a minimum of 80% native species with a height greater than 2 metres;

“buffer strip” means a strip of unfertilised land adjacent to an Area of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserve, Natura 2000 site, watercourse, lake or woodland, at least 100 metres long and at least 5 metres wide;

“carr” means an area of wet woodland of which at least 50% is covered in willow, birch and alder or a combination of all three;

“coastal farmland” means land which comprises semi-natural vegetation and is either clifftop, cliff-face, sand dune or grazed salt-marsh and which fronts the sea and is subject to farming practices;

“conservation crop margin” means an area of crop with a minimum width of 6 metres and a maximum width of 12 metres which is grown with minimal use of pesticides and fertilisers;

“farm scrub” means vegetation dominated by a minimum of 70% cover broadleaf native shrub species;

“field boundaries” means hedgerows, sod banks, or dry stone walls and associated features;

“fen” means an area which is waterlogged and flooded in the winter and remains damp in the summer with a vegetation characterised by the absence of terrestrial plants;

“habitat” means the normal abode or locality of animals or plants;

“heather moorland” means land supporting between 5% and 25% cover of heather, bell heather, cross-leafed heath, bilberry and western gorse;

“heritage feature” includes rural features of historic interest;“improved land” means grassland on which more than 20% of the sward is comprised of rye-grass, timothy, red-fescue or white clover;

“improved land” means grassland on which more than 20% of the sward is comprised of rye-grass, timothy, red-fescue or white clover;

“inter-drumlin lough” means a body of standing water at least 0·5 hectares in area with a maximum of 30 farm businesses in the catchment area;

“lapwing breeding sites” means improved or unimproved land where lapwing are present during the breeding season (ie early March - early June);

“lowland raised bog” means intact or cut-over dome shaped peatland;

“lowland wet grassland” means managed grassland below 200m with a naturally high water table at least until mid-June and generally liable to seasonable flooding;

“marginal hill land” means enclosed farmland on the periphery of an open hill comprised of a sward of low productivity grasses;

“moorland” means land with predominantly semi-natural upland vegetation, or comprising predominantly rock outcrops and semi-natural upland vegetation;

“National Nature Reserve” means land declared to be a national nature reserve under Article 18 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985;

“Natura 2000 site” means an area designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under Council Directive 92/43/EEC(6) or as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under Council Directive 74/409/EEC(7);

“nutrient management plan” means a programme of fertiliser application based on crop requirements, soil analysis and soil type and profile approved in writing by the Department;

“reed bed” means a wetland dominated by stands of the common reed where reed cover is greater than 75%;

“restricted grazing period” means a time of year when limits to stocking levels apply;

“rough grass field margin” means land forming a strip with a minimum width of 2 metres around arable fields in which cereal, oilseed or protein crops are being grown and on which a suitable grass mixture is sown;

“rough moorland grazing” means coarse grassland vegetation comprising wholly or mainly mat-grass, purple moor-grass, cotton-grasses, wavy hair grass and sedges;

“scrape” means a shallow depression temporarily or permanently holding water created for the benefit of breeding waders;

“scrub” means woody vegetation under 2 metres tall;

“semi-natural grassland” means grassland characterised by sward of low productivity grasses, sedges or rushes and a high cover of herbaceous plants;

“the Sites and Monuments Record” means the information system maintained by the Department of the Environment holding all known archeological and historical sites from 7000 BC onwards;

“species rich acid grassland” means grassland occurring on base poor soils with a low cover of mat-grass and a high cover of herbaceous plants;

“species rich grassland” means grassland with a sward of low productivity grasses and a high cover of herbaceous plants; rye-grass timothy and white clover must comprise less than 20% of the sward;

“species rich hay meadows” means species rich grassland used for the production of hay;

“traditional orchard eligible for restoration” means an orchard no greater than 0·4 hectares containing a minimum of 4 standing fruit trees of 50 years of age at least and with a potential area for 12 fruit trees and a maximum of 50 fruit trees;

“traditional orchard eligible for recreation” means an orchard planted with old traditional varieties on improved land, no greater than 0·4 hectares;

“unimproved land” means grassland containing less than 20% rye grass, timothy, red fescue or white clover;

“upland breeding wader sites” means sites of marginal hill land used by breeding waders and which are identified by the Department;

“wetlands” means an area with a naturally high water table, at least until mid-June and generally liable to seasonal flooding;

“wild bird cover crop” means a crop mixture which is not normally used for agricultural production and where the individual components cannot be harvested separately;

“winter feeding sites for migratory swans and geese” means fields of grassland or winter cereals or oilseed rape which have been regularly used for winter grazing by a minimum of 25 swans or geese (except Canada goose and feral Greylag goose) for at least three of the previous five winters.

(1)

Soil ISBN 1 85527 1591 (1995)

(2)

Air ISBN 1 85527 1605, 1613, (1995)

(3)

Water ISBN 1 85527 057 9, 059 5, 112 5, 115, 114 1, 246 6, 351 9, 361 6 (1991-1999)

(4)

ISBN 1 855 472 8

(5)

S.I. 1985/170 (N.I. 1) as amended by S.I. 1989/492 (N.I. 3)

(6)

O.J. No. L206, 22.7.92, p. 7

(7)

O.J. No. L103, 25.4.79, p. 1