The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Stage II) Designation Order 2000

articles 2(1) and(3), 3 and 5(1)

SCHEDULE 4 SUFFOLK RIVER VALLEYS

PART 1 DESIGNATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA

The area of land in the Suffolk River Valleys in the counties of Suffolk and Essex which is shown coloured yellow on the maps contained in the volume of maps marked “Volume of maps of Suffolk River Valleys environmentally sensitive area” dated 6th November 2000, signed on behalf of the Minister by the Parliamentary Secretary and deposited at the offices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.

PART 2 CAPITAL ACTIVITIES

• The planting, laying or coppicing of hedges.

• The provision of water-penning structures.

• The creation or restoration of ponds, and the restoration of ditches, dykes and footdrains.

• The restoration of reedbeds or sedgebeds.

• The provision of water supplies and fencing where necessary to facilitate the re-introduction of livestock for grazing.

• The management of scrub.

• The control of bracken.

• The creation or improvement of herb-rich hay meadows.

• Works to protect historic and archaeological features.

• The provision and restoration of gates, stiles and footbridges, where an agreement includes requirements as to public access.

• Re-introduction of pollarding management for neglected trees.

• Tree-planting.

• The provision of rabbit fencing.

• Wind pumps for water-level management.

• Other works for the restoration or enhancement of wildlife habitats.

PART 3 MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Column 1	Column 2
Activity	Maximum rate in £ per hectare of land per annum (except where otherwise stated)
1.  Management of permanent grassland.	75
2.  Management of reverted grassland.	270
3.  Management of low input grassland.	190
4.  Management of low input grassland which is reverted grassland.	290
5.  Where management of any kind referred to in item 1, 2, 3 or 4 above is undertaken, additional management for the purpose of bringing about marsh conditions.	50
6.  Where management of any kind referred to in item 3,4 or 5 above is undertaken, additional management for the purpose of bringing about high water levels.	50
7.  In relation to cultivated land— (a) reversion of arable land to grassland	270
(b) where management of any kind referred to in item 1 or sub-paragraph (a) above is undertaken, additional management for the purpose of creating, and management of, buffer strips.	55
8.  Management of fen vegetation.	130
9.  Maintenance of woodland.	17
10.  The provision of public access routes.	170
11.  Hedgerow restoration.	£4 per metre

PART 4 DEFINITIONS

In this Schedule:

“buffer strip” means a strip of land which is subject to a prohibition on the use of fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals, is at least six metres wide, is located at the edge of a field and adjoins an open drainage channel or a hedgerow;

“fen” means an area of semi-natural vegetation which is waterlogged throughout the year;

“low input grassland” means permanent grassland which has not been regularly cultivated or reseeded, or treated with fertilizer, pesticides or other agricultural inputs, or permanent grassland that has the potential to retain high summer water levels;

“marsh” means grassland with the potential to retain high spring water levels in ditches so as to create field wetness or to allow shallow pools to develop;

“permanent grassland” means grassland which has not been ploughed or reseeded for at least five years;

“reverted grassland” means grassland established pursuant to the provisions of an agreement on land previously used for arable cropping.