Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this item is to improve water quality by creating a wetland to intercept and treat run-off that currently discharges direct to a watercourse or freshwater drain. Wetlands can improve water quality through natural processes, including filtration, retention, biological breakdown and plant uptake.

The land must be within a diffuse pollution priority catchment or focus area (unless an endorsement has been obtained from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) or a flooding target area.

You must prepare a plan which must include a map of the relevant fields / steading identifying the location of the proposed rural sustainable drainage system feature.

Only run-off which does not fall within the definition of slurry may be conveyed to a wetland, unless the run-off is of a type permitted by the Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 as amended to be conveyed to a constructed farm wetland, and the wetland has been designed and constructed in line with the Constructed Farm Wetland Design Manual for Scotland and Northern Ireland, 2008 as evidenced by a sign-off from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Additionally:

• run-off from pesticide handling or washdown areas must not be conveyed to a wetland
• fencing must be provided to protect people and livestock
• existing wetlands must not be used
• you must obtain planning permission, or have confirmation that planning permission is not required for your proposed wetland
• where a proprietary lining is used, a receipt for the liner will be required

You can claim:

• £9 per square metre for wetland with a proprietary lining
• £5 per square metre for wetland with a soil lining

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the wetland
• that there is a receipt for a proprietary liner
• only run-off which does not fall within the definition of slurry is conveyed to a wetland
• run-off from pesticide handling or wash-down areas is not conveyed to a wetland
• fencing has been provided to protect people and livestock
• existing wetlands are not used

Supporting guidance is available for this option.