Rural Payments and Services

This item is for heather swiping to reduce heather dominance and promote blueberry growth where it will benefit woodland grouse within internal woodland openings, rides, and internal woodland designed open space so as to meet the objectives of the Woodland Improvement Grant – Habitats and Species option. You must record the boundary of the area that will be treated on a map and give the management reasons for the operation in your application.

Swiping of tall heather will be done in small (no larger than 0.25 hectares), irregularly shaped patches. Swiped patches and existing areas of blaeberry will be linked to each other by swiped corridors.

It is expected that the treatment should be by double-tyred tractor-mounted swipe but if the use of this machinery will damage ground vegetation, then hand-strimming should be undertaken as appropriate.

On SSSIs, SPAs or SACs any treatment should be discussed with Scottish Natural Heritage staff at the planning stage and their advice and letter of support must be submitted with your application.

We require the areas treated for heather swiping to be managed accordingly to meet the agreed objectives for a period of at least five years following the date you received your payment.