SRDP Scottish Rural Development Programme

Measures(and lay-terms)

Purpose

Summary of what you can do (grazing items only)

Management of Moorland Grazing

(management related to livestock -wider countryside)

The aim of this Option is to support changes in grazing management to benefit a wide range of landscapes, habitats and species found on moorland.

• You must prepare a Moorland Grazing Plan and carry it out. The plan must be in place by the beginning of your undertaking, and should take account of the combined impacts of livestock and other grazing animals present on the land.
• The Plan should describe the current condition and management of the moorland. It should propose changes in shepherding, managing livestock and feeding practices that will benefit the environment and wildlife.

This is a 5-year commitment. £1.30 per hectare per year.

Moorland Grazings on Uplands and Peatlands

(management related to livestock – designated sites)

This will maintain and enhance a range of upland and peatland habitats by promoting good soil management.

You can only enter land within a SSSI, SAC or SPA designated for its upland or peatland interests (vegetation, birds or plants). However, you can also enter adjacent land if your proposals will help to bring these interests into good condition.

• a Moorland Management Plan must address impacts that can lead to erosion on hill grazings where soft peaty soils or thin upland soils predominate. It will take account of trampling by livestock, tracking by All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), muirburn and peat-cutting.

This is a 5-year commitment. £2 per hectare per year.

Wildlife Management on Upland and Peatland Sites

(management related to wild herbivores –deer management)

This Option will encourage changes to the management of hill grazings and management of livestock with the aim of conserving the soils and restoring any special features on these sites to favourable condition.

Priority will be given to land within an SSSI, SAC or SPA designated for its upland or peatland interests - vegetation, birds or plants.

All applications must be supported by a Moorland Management Plan (MMP). The MMP will provide an audit of the current extent, condition and management of the upland and peatland habitats on the holding. It will provide guidance on suitable grazing regimes, and any additional work required to secure their maintenance and recovery, with wildlife conservation as the key management priority. Its main aim will be to address in an integrated way all the impacts that can lead to erosion of peat and upland soils including: trampling by deer, tracking by All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), muirburn and peat-cutting. It will also consider the impacts of any woodland present on the site, and identify zones where tree and seedling tree removal or clearance would benefit the site's conservation value.
Where the land is also grazed by farm livestock the land must also be entered under the Management of Moorland Grazings Option. The management plan may identify additional management Options such as drain blocking - peat dams, woodland clearance and seedling tree removal.

This is a 5-year commitment. £0.70 per hectare per year.

Moorland - Stock Disposal

The aim of this Option is to regenerate suppressed heather or other moorland vegetation of conservation interest by reducing the numbers of sheep grazing.

• you must remove the agreed number of ewes from the site and the IACS business before 1 March in the first year of your undertaking. You may not increase the number of ewes on the moorland or business during the agreement;
• you must prepare a Moorland Management Plan and carry it out. The plan should describe the current condition of the moorland and how it is managed. This should take account of the combined impacts of livestock and other grazing animals present on the land.

This is a 5 year commitment. £19.63 per hectare per year.

For the purposes of payment, it is assumed that each ewe disposed of will benefit 0.8 hectares of moorland.

Away-Wintering of Sheep

This Option provides support for sheep to be removed from upland sites in winter to another farm.

• you must remove an agreed number of ewes or hoggs from the moorland and the IACS business for at least 22 weeks during the winter
• you must prepare and implement a Moorland Management Plan. The Plan should describe the current condition of the moorland and how it is managed. It must say how many ewes or hoggs you will winter elsewhere, and explain how this will benefit the condition of the moorland. It should consider other management options and explain why away wintering is the best Option for your site. This should take account of the combined impacts of livestock and other grazing animals

This is a 5-year commitment. £21 per hectare per year.

For the purposes of payment, it is assumed that each ewe away-wintered will benefit 0.8 hectares of moorland.

Off-Wintering of Sheep

This Option provides support for sheep to be removed from upland sites in winter to in-bye land on the same holding.

• you must remove an agreed number of ewes or hoggs from the moorland to in-bye land on the same holding for at least 22 weeks during the winter. In exceptional circumstances, we will consider shorter periods where this is the only practical option for the unit.
• you must prepare a Moorland Management Plan and carry it out. The Plan should describe the current condition of the moorland and how it is managed. It must say how many ewes you will remove from the site in winter, and explain how this will benefit the condition of the moorland. It should consider other management Options and explain why off wintering is the best Option for your site. This should take account of the combined impacts of livestock and other grazing animals.

This is a 5-year commitment. £9 per hectare per year.

For the purposes of payment, it is assumed that each ewe off-wintered will benefit 0.8 hectares of moorland.

Habitat Grazing Management

(shepherding)

This Option will improve the condition of moorland and upland vegetation and associated wildlife on SSSIs and Natura sites by spreading sheep grazing more evenly across the site.
It can help to address localised overgrazing or undergrazing issues where other approaches would be impractical or ineffective. It could be used to move stock off recently burnt areas of heather or areas where bracken has been controlled.
This Option is not available to address an overgrazing problem caused by feeding locations or inappropriate stock numbers. It goes beyond the requirements of Cross Compliance.

• Your Moorland Management Plan identifies a need for extra shepherding to address local overgrazing or undergrazing issues, where other approaches would be ineffective or impractical.
• Your Moorland Management Plan must specify where and when the extra shepherding will be carried out and explain how it will benefit the condition of your moorland.
• Your Moorland Management Plan must specify the number of years and the amount of time required in each year.
• If you are also applying for either the "Management of Moorland Grazing" Option or "Moorland grazings on Uplands and Peatlands" Option, you must justify why you need to apply for the Habitat Grazing Management Option as well.

£7.82 per hour.

You must submit an annual record of management to record the work undertaken each year. This will include the number of hours and the time of year (for example: "1 extra hour per day, for 6 days a week, from 1 March to 31 October inclusive").

Scrub and Tall Herb Communities

This Option aims to enhance and extend areas of native scrub vegetation and tall herb communities and secure the survival of associated flora and fauna. This will normally involve light grazing in the summer, and none in the winter. Includes:

Upland scrub - wet scrub forest zone -  Willow, Bog Myrtle

Upland scrub - dry scrub forest zone including treeline  - Scots Pine and Willow
Upland juniper scrub - Juniper

Upland dwarf birch scrub - Dwarf birch

Upland dwarf willow scrub - Downy, Woolly, Mountain and Whortle-leaved Willow

• manage the grazing of scrub and open habitat mosaic to maintain an appropriate balance between these components (overall within the mosaic, scrub cover will vary depending on the type of scrub you are managing - see appropriate technical guidance. The scrub should be in good condition and regeneration should be sufficient to maintain its current extent. This may involve the complete but temporary removal of grazing see appropriate technical guidance. The open habitats should be managed according to the appropriate
• avoid poaching by managing stock carefully when ground conditions are wet
• no supplementary feeding is permitted on the site

This is a 5 year commitment. £94 per hectare per year.

Sustainable Management of Forests

(woodland management including deer and livestock management).

Through this Option we will provide support for the sustainable management of forests and woodlands of high environmental value. Including:

• Areas of native woodland under active management to maintain or bring them towards a favourable condition
• Areas of native woodland where domestic livestock needs to be removed to bring them towards a favourable condition

Aiming for a light level of grazing and browsing sufficient to allow regeneration of a characteristic range of trees and shrubs and a well-developed field layer. (There are a minority of situations where higher grazing levels may be needed to maintain particular vegetation structures, e.g. in traditional wood pastures.)

You can carry out a range of agreed management work that contributes to delivering appropriate environmental outcomes on one or more of the following areas of woodland:

• Areas of native woodland and plantation on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) intended for full restoration to native woodland

You must have an approved Forest Plan.:

• A deer management plan. This plan should cover deer management over all areas of woodland and demonstrate how it will achieve the desired outcomes for condition.
• If your native woodlands are being used to shelter and/or graze domestic livestock and this is preventing the regeneration of the woodland, and you agree to remove your agricultural stock from identified areas of woodland, you may receive compensation for the loss of income.

We will provide support for undertaking the management work that has been identified as a net cost in your indicative budget for the plan period.
We will provide additional support for the removal of domestic livestock from areas of native woodland.

Management of areas of native woodlands: £28/hectare/year for up to 10 years

Removal of domestic livestock from native woodland: £41/hectare/year for up to 10 years

Woodland Improvement Grant

(woodlands  - deer reduction)

Operations will improve the ecological and environmental value of woodlands. Including:

• reducing deer impact in woodlands

• Operations must be set out in a deer management plan (DMP) that has been agreed by Forestry Commission Scotland and - where appropriate - the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS).
• Operations must comply with DCS Best Practice Guidance.
• If you intend to fence areas, you must assess the risks (including the impacts on wildlife and access) and where required mitigate these in line with best practice guidance. Please note that compensatory deer culling may be necessary. You should not obstruct or hinder public access. Your proposals must show the timing of any fence removal. If you intend to protect the trees only by deer culling then the DMP must show that this is achievable and sustainable.
• Areas in receipt of grant aid for deer control under the following are ineligible:

SFGS, Sustainable Management of Forests

The payment will cover deer control over the eligible woodland area during the first 5 years of the DMP. You must submit monitoring evidence on the success of the DMP in year 5, at which time we will review the plan and consider eligibility for further support.

£30/hectare  - capital payment.

Open range deer management to enhance the natural heritage

(open range deer control – reduction)

Linked to moorland grazing options.

This capital item provides support for changes in open range deer management which will enhance the condition of the special features on designated sites. It is available over deer ranges containing designated sites that are considered to be at risk from damage by deer.

You should set out the proposed operations in a Deer Management Plan (DMP) that complies with Deer Commission for Scotland best practice guidance. This plan should include targets for enhancing the condition of key habitats on the designated site, which are achievable within a 5-year period. There will be a review in year 3 and further changes in management may be needed if there has not been reasonable progress towards these targets.
Where deer and livestock are both present on the designated site in significant numbers, this item will only be available in conjunction with a moorland management plan which takes account of the combined impact of all grazing animals on the site and incorporates the key elements of the DMP.
Where the net cost of making changes in open range deer management is likely to exceed £3.50 per hectare, payments may be based on estimated net costs. The operations proposed in the DMP should be costed using a standard proforma and agreed in advance. Payment will be based on the agreed costs of management.

The payment will cover deer control over the eligible area during the first 5 years of the DMP.
£3 per hectare of eligible deer range – capital payment.

Capital works on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Natura features

(non-standard costs on designated sites)

This item supports action on or adjacent to SSSIs and Natura sites aimed at bringing the special features of interest into favourable condition.

We will provide you with assistance towards the eligible costs of bringing the special features on the protected site into favourable condition, where:

• the cost of the required action or effort is significantly higher than the standard cost, or
• there are no standard costs for the operation you propose.

The work must be necessary to bring the qualifying interests of SSSIs and Natura sites into favourable condition.
You must justify why the standard costs are not appropriate and provide a detailed breakdown of the work required and the associated costs.
For example, the following items may be eligible:

• fencing on remote or difficult terrain
• where costs the costs of open range deer management to enhance the natural heritage exceed £3.50 per hectare.

We will make a variable rate capital payment of up to 100% of eligible costs, depending on the requirement to allow the project to go ahead.
You can make only one claim for payment for this item in any 5 year period. A one off payment will be paid in arrears.

Other capital items

Deer Fence £6.90/m
Stock Fence £4.00/m
Fence removal £2.00/m
Upgrading stock to deer fence £2.75/m
Scare or temporary fencing £1.50/m
Rabbit proofing – existing or new stock/ deer fence -£1.90/m.

Environment Outcome Plan

In an outcome plan you should identify how and why the options (activities) set out in the online Proposal will deliver the selected regional priorities. You must address any issues identified in the Statement of Intent feedback, include any specialist input identified by the Case Officer and provide evidence against the assessment criteria that will be used by the Case Officer to judge how well the Proposal meets the outcomes of the Rural Development Contract – Rural Priorities Scheme.
You may be required to prepare an Outcome Plan with specialist input when:

• The Option guidance specifically asks for specialist or further detailed description of how you intend to carry out the Option, over and above that prescribed in the Option guidance
• Carrying out the activity as prescribed in the guidance you are unlikely to deliver the operation successfully, you would not meet the regional priority, you risk negative impacts or you will deliver poor value for money without further precision, technical description or co-ordination tailored to your circumstances
• You are choosing not to follow the standard prescription described in the Option guidance and intend to develop your own tailored management that will better meet the regional priority on your property, e.g. a grazing plan (agreed by Scottish Ministers) that differs from the grazing regime prescribed in the Option guidance.
• In the Case Officer's opinion (having consulted with their specialist colleagues) it is thought that the 'who', 'what', 'where', 'when' and 'how' information that you are asked to provide within your online Proposal and Basic Outcome Plan will not adequately describe the activity within the circumstances of the case being assessed.

Basic Outcome Plan

a. Prepared by applicant - Flat rate £150 in a one off payment on production of a valid Proposal.
b. Prepared by agent - 50% of actual costs up to a maximum of £200 in a one off payment on production of a valid Proposal. Applies to any chapter.

Outcome Plan with Specialist Input

c. Prepared by agent/specialist - 50% of actual costs up to a maximum of £400 in a one off payment on production of a valid Proposal.
d. Prepared by agent/specialist - £1.02 per hectare per year for the first 150 hectares and £0.20 per hectare per year for the next 100 hectares. It is paid annually for 5 years, giving a maximum of £865.00 per plan. This is only available for activities covered by the Environment chapter and payable if approval is given for the Proposals it supports.
Applicants requiring an Outcome Plan for land management Options (e.g. that meet regional priorities numbers 8-25) can choose to get funding through c. or d.
Funding under a. b. or c. is limited to a maximum of £1000 per business over the life of the Programme (i.e. to 2013).
Note: Where the Rural Priorities Options guidance mentions a specific payment rate per hectare per year for a specialist plan that differs from that given under payment rate d. the Option guidance rate will apply.

Measures (and lay-terms)

Purpose

Summary of what you can do (grazing items only)

LEADER

(projects with community benefit)

The aim of LEADER is to increase the capacity of local rural community and business networks to build knowledge and skills, innovate and co-operate in order to tackle local development objectives.

Constituted community groups, social enterprises, micro or small businesses, voluntary organisations or public sector bodies with a project idea that will benefit the rural community can apply or
Individuals who have public support for their project, submitting proposals which implement the local strategy can also apply in some cases. These projects will be community driven and will benefit a wide section of the community rather than an individual.

Applicants will need to have matching funds, normally 50% or more of the total project cost.
Since LEADER is aimed at community benefit it is expected that match funding will be largely form public bodies. Letters of intent from match funders will suffice.