The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Lake District) Designation Order 1993

Article 6(2)

SCHEDULE 2 ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS — I

Option 1 — Meadowland

1.  As regards any meadowland which is the subject of an agreement—

(1) the farmer shall observe the provisions of Schedule 1 paragraph 2 except for sub-paragraphs (3) and (4);

(2) the farmer shall identify land which is meadow and shall maintain it as such for the length of the agreement;

(3) the farmer shall exclude stock at least seven weeks before cutting and in any event by 1st June in any year;

(4) the farmer shall not take the first cut of grass before 1st July in any year, and at least once in every five years he shall not make the first cut until after 22nd July, in accordance with a cutting programme agreed with the Minister;

(5) the farmer shall remove any cut grass and graze the aftermath;

(6) the farmer shall wilt and turn grass cut for silage before removing it;

(7) the farmer shall not apply inorganic or organic fertiliser except farmyard manure which has been produced on his own farm;

(8) the farmer shall not increase his existing application rates of farmyard manure and shall not in any event apply more than 12.5 tonnes per hectare in any year. He shall make only one application a year.

Option 2 — Pasture

2.  As regards any pasture which is the subject of an agreement—

(1) the farmer shall observe the requirements of Schedule 1 paragraph 2 except for sub-paragraphs (3) and (4);

(2) the farmer shall identify land which is pasture and shall maintain it as such for the length of the agreement;

(3) the farmer shall not apply inorganic or organic fertiliser except farmyard manure which has been produced on his own farm;

(4) the farmer shall not increase his existing application rates of farmyard manure and shall not in any event apply more than 12.5 tonnes per hectare in any year. He shall make only one application a year;

(5) the farmer shall not exceed an average stocking level of 0.3 livestock units per hectare in any year and shall not damage the sward by allowing poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing;

(6) the farmer shall agree in writing in advance with the Minister a grazing regime in respect of areas of pasture which adjoin lakes, ponds or watercourses.

Option 3 — Wetland

3.  As regards any wetland which is the subject of an agreement—

(1) the farmer shall observe the requirements of Schedule 1 paragraph 2 except for sub-paragraphs (3), (4) and (5);

(2) the farmer shall identify land which is wetland and shall maintain it as such for the length of the agreement;

(3) the farmer shall not apply organic or inorganic fertiliser;

(4) the farmer shall not increase existing stocking levels and shall agree a grazing regime in writing in advance with the Minister.

Option 4 — Heather fell

4.  As regards any heather fell which is the subject of an agreement—

(1) the farmer shall, in relation to Schedule 1 paragraph 5, observe the provisions of sub-paragraphs (2) to (6) inclusive only;

(2) the farmer shall not increase existing stocking levels and shall not in any event exceed a stocking level of 0.1 livestock units per hectare from 1st March until 30th September in any year.