These Regulations amend the Countryside Premium Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1997 (“the principal Regulations”). These Regulations extend to Scotland only.

The principal Regulations provide for payment of a grant in respect of an undertaking to follow the general environmental conditions set out in Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations and to carry out at least one of either the management activities set out in Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations or the capital activities set out in Schedule 3 to the principal Regulations.

These Regulations amend the management requirements in Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations in respect of certain management activities. Those management activities are management of grassland for birds; management and creation of species–rich grassland; management and creation of wetland; management of water–margin; management of coastal heath; creation of grass–margin or beetlebank; creation of extended hedge; and management of scrub (regulation 2(2)(a) to (o)).

No Regulatory Impact Assessment has been carried out in respect of these Regulations.