Rural Payments and Services

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The aim of this option is to benefit ground-nesting birds, particularly waders such as lapwing and curlew.

Extensively managing hay and silage fields will reduce the risk of damage to birds, their eggs and fledglings from field operations.

Leaving an area uncut will also provide cover for the birds. Hares and other small mammals will also benefit.

Grassland that is not rough grazing is eligible.

You should not include areas of land covering rocks, scree, water, dense bracken etc. We will check this using the same approach we use to check land for the Basic Payment Scheme.

Assessing your land eligibility

You can check if this option is available on your holding here.

You must identify on a map the locations of the fields being managed.

This option can be moved around the farm within the normal rotation and on an annual basis.

To maximise flexibility you can manage a different total hectarage each year as long as the area you manage each year is at least 90 per cent, and no more than 100 per cent, of the area you plan to manage in the first year under this option.

• do not roll, harrow or graze the area from 1 April until 30 June inclusive
• do not apply lime, fertiliser, slurry or farmyard manure from 1 April to 15 May inclusive
• the area must be mown, but not before 30 June
• the hay or silage must be cut in a wildlife-friendly manner
• a strip of grass at least two metres wide around the field boundary must be left uncut
• this uncut strip must be grazed down before the next exclusion period
• do not spray, except for the spot-treatment of injurious weeds (requires prior written notification) or treatment of invasive species (requires prior written approval)
• you must maintain a diary

You can claim £149.75 per hectare per year.

You will only be paid for the area that you manage and declare annually.

The inspectors will check:

• you have not rolled, harrowed or grazed the area from 1 April until 30 June inclusive
• you have not applied lime, fertiliser, slurry or farmyard manure from 1 April to 15 May inclusive
• the area has been mown, but not before 30 June
• the hay or silage has been cut in a wildlife-friendly manner
• a strip of grass at least two metres wide around the field boundary has been left uncut
• this uncut strip has been grazed down before the next exclusion period
• you have not sprayed, unless with prior written notification or approval as appropriate
• you have maintained a diary

Supporting guidance is available for this option.

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