Follow-up Treatment of Bracken – Mechanised (Formerly Mechanised or Chemical)

Date published: 7 November, 2023

For recent changes to this guidance, please see the bottom of the page.

Note: Due to the decision by the manufacturers of Asulam to cease further work on a permanent solution to authorise the product in the UK, the chemical is no longer available to treat bracken. For all new contracts, therefore, you may only apply for mechanised treatment of bracken under this capital item.

The aim of this item is to benefit moorland, heathland and grassland habitats by reducing bracken cover and preventing habitat loss.

Controlling bracken can also help to restore a more open structure to the existing vegetation, which will encourage native plants to thrive and provide better habitat for wildlife.

Any single mechanical treatment of bracken will not be enough to control it so follow-up treatment is necessary.

Land that is moorland, heathland or unimproved grassland where you have completed primary treatment of bracken, including under a previous NatureScot or Scottish Government agri-environment scheme in the last five years 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 must combine this item with one of the following management options:

If you are applying for land where primary treatment was undertaken under a previous agri-environment scheme, you must prepare a bracken management plan.

The plan must include a 1:2,500 or 1:10,000 map showing the extent of the bracken, the areas to be treated, the type of management you propose ( mechanical or manual) and identify the locations of sensitive areas. Only those areas safe to treat with mechanical/manual methods should be included.

  • you must treat any bracken regrowth within the area detailed in your bracken management plan by mechanical methods
  • if controlling mechanically, you must cut or crush the bracken and any regrowth. You will need to do this two or three times during the growing season
  • you must maintain a diary which includes the dates treatment was undertaken

You can claim £90.00 per hectare of land treated.

The inspectors will check:

  • the location and extent of the work
  • you have treated the area as detailed in your bracken management plan
  • you have maintained a diary which includes the dates treatment was undertaken

Section Change
Heading Title changed to Primary Treatment of Bracken – Mechanised (Formerly Mechanised or Chemical)
Note For 2024, you may only apply for mechanised treatment of bracken under this capital item.
Aim Edits to cater for changes relating to follow up treatment of bracken capital item
Eligibility Change of name from Scottish Natural Heritage to Nature Scot
Application Requirements Updated Bracken Control Plan template and Edits to cater for changes relating to follow up treatment of bracken capital item
Requirements Edits to cater for changes relating to follow up treatment of bracken capital item
Inspections Edits to cater for changes relating to follow up treatment of bracken capital item

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