Rural Payments and Services

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The aim of this option is to benefit a range of species-rich grassland habitats by maintaining appropriate grazing or cutting regimes.

Careful grazing management, which makes sure that the sward is longest in the summer and shorter in the spring and autumn, will allow flowering species to set seed and germinate.

Species-rich grasslands support a wide range of flowering plants, along with pollinating bees, butterflies, moths and other invertebrates.

Land that has either existing species-rich grassland or is where you propose to create or restore species-rich grassland 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

This option is available throughout Scotland.

You must identify on a map the locations of the species-rich grassland to be managed. Where the land proposed for management is hill and upland rough grazing you must seek endorsement from Scottish Natural Heritage before you apply. This will require you to provide evidence that target habitats are present by submitting either:

• a Phase 1 habitat survey that demonstrates the presence of the target habitats, or
• an existing National Vegetation Classification survey demonstrating the site contains the target species

You must manage the same location and extent each year for the duration of your contract.

• where no species-rich grassland exists, or you wish to restore a species-rich grassland, you must either begin establishment or begin restoration of a species-rich sward by 1 June in the first year of your contract
• you must graze and / or cut the area subject to payment

If grazing:

• you must adhere to an approved grazing regime defining the livestock units and dates

If cutting:

• you must cut after 15 July
• you must manage any aftermath to avoid the build-up of matted dead plant material
• you must remove cuttings

For both cutting or grazing:

• do not plough the area, except to aid establishment when creating species rich grassland on arable land
• do not cultivate the area, except to aid establishment when creating or restoring a species-rich grassland
• do not apply fertiliser, slurry or farmyard manure
• do not apply lime, unless you have prior approval
• do not allow the land to become poached or vehicle tracked
• do not carry out supplementary livestock feeding unless with prior written approval
• 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:

• £109.56 per hectare per year for management
• £284.80 per hectare per year for creation and management

There are separate capital items to support the restoration or creation of species rich grassland:

• Creation of Species-rich Grassland
• Restoration of Species-rich Grassland

The inspectors will check:

• where no species-rich grassland exists, or you wish to restore a species rich grassland, you have either begun establishment or begun restoration of a species rich sward by 1 June in the first year of your contract
• you have grazed and / or cut the area subject to payment

If grazing:

• you have adhered to an approved grazing regime defining the livestock units and dates

If cutting:

• you have cut after 15 July
• you have managed any aftermath to avoid the build-up of matted dead plant material
• you must remove cuttings

For both cutting or grazing:

• you have not ploughed the area, except to aid establishment when creating species rich grassland on arable land
• you have not cultivated the area, except to aid establishment when creating or restoring a species-rich grassland
• you have not applied fertiliser, slurry or farmyard manure
• you have not applied lime, unless you have prior approval
• you have not allowed the land to become poached or vehicle tracked
• you have not carried out supplementary livestock feeding unless with prior written approval
• 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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