Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this item is to benefit a variety of habitats where rhododendron is invading a sensitive site.

Rhododendrons thrive in damp acidic soils, and quickly grow to form a dense shading canopy at the expense of other native plants.

Follow-up treatment involves direct treatment of regrowth following initial manual, mechanical or chemical treatment.

Any land where rhododendron is invading a sensitive habitat, and bushes are less than 1.3 metres in height, is eligible.

You must have or prepare a rhododendron control plan.

You must apply for this in conjunction with the initial treatment or after the initial treatment (but before year five) of the control plan.

The plan must include a 1:10,000 map showing the extent of the rhododendrons, their density (light, medium or heavy), the areas to be treated and the type of treatment you propose (chemical, mechanical or manual) and the timing of treatment.

The plan must also detail any proposed ongoing control.

• you must treat any regrowth within the area detailed in your rhododendron control plan by chemical foliar spraying
• you must maintain a diary
• you must keep photographic evidence of the site before and after treatment as part of your claim

You can claim £200 per hectare of infested land.

This can only be applied for once in the five year life of the rhododendron control plan.

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work
• you have treated the area as detailed in your rhododendron control plan to ensure there is no regrowth
• you have maintained a diary
• you have kept photographic evidence of the site before and after treatment as part of your claim

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