The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Stage IV) Designation Order 2000

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

SCHEDULE 4 ESSEX COAST

PART 1 DESIGNATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA

The area of land on the Essex Coast in the county of Essex which is shown coloured yellow on the maps contained in the volume of maps marked “Volume of maps of the Essex Coast 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 construction of water-penning structures or other works designed to control water levels

• The construction or reconstruction of culverts and other farm ditch crossings.

• The restoration of ditches and dykes.

• The creation or restoration of ponds.

• The creation or restoration of reedbeds and sedgebeds.

• The provision of water supplies, fencing and collection pens associated with the re-introduction of livestock for grazing.

• The planting, laying or coppicing of hedges.

• The creation or improvement of herb-rich grassland.

• Works to protect historic and archaeological features.

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

• Management of scrub.

• The creation of scrapes.

• The restoration of dykes, ditches, gutters and footdrains.

• The installation and repair of windpumps for water-level management.

• Fencing to protect habitats.

• Other works associated with habitat restoration or enhancement.

PART 3 MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Column 1	Column 2
Activity	Maximum rate in £ per hectare of land per annum
1.  Maintenance of permanent grassland.	70
2.  Management of wet grassland.	190
3.  Management of marshland.	250
4.  Reversion of cultivated land to permanent grassland.	275
5.  Where management of any kind referred to in item 1 or 4 above is undertaken, additional management for the purposes of enhancing biodiversity through water management, and restrictions on livestock and agricultural activities on grazing marsh.	80
6.  Where management of any kind referred to in item 1, 2 or 4 above is undertaken, additional management of water, and restrictions on livestock and agricultural activities for the purposes of enhancing biodiversity by encouraging wildfowl.	50
7.  Provision of public access routes.	170

PART 4 DEFINITIONS

In this Schedule:

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

“scrape” means a shallow excavation which may hold water seasonally;

“wet grassland” means grassland with the potential to retain winter and spring water levels on marshland to create field wetness or to allow shallow pools to develop.