Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this item is to benefit waders or Greenland white-fronted geese which like the cover of rushes but need open space to move between rush tussocks.

Cutting areas of dense rush in a random pattern will create open areas for the birds to feed whilst still maintaining some rush to provide cover.

Land that is grassland of a minimum block size of 0.05 hectares is eligible where rushes form more than 50 per cent in each square metre of the block.

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

If you are managing rush pasture for waders, you must combine this item with one of the following management options (these can be on different areas):

• Wader and Wildlife Mown Grassland(cutting of rush pasture can be in the same field but not over the same area as this option)
• Wader Grazed Grassland (cutting of rush pasture can be in the same field and over the same area as this option)

If you are managing rush pasture for Greenland white-fronted geese, you do not need to combine this item with one of those options.

You must prepare a map showing the location and extent of the area to be cut.

• you must cut the rushes between 1 August and 1 March in a random pattern to create a mosaic of different height rush within the LPID. There must be clearly identifiable areas within the rushes which have been cut
• do not plough, cultivate or reseed the area
• do not carry out new drainage. Maintenance drainage may be carried out but this requires prior written notification
• you must maintain a diary

You can claim £8.45 per hectare of rush within the field.

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work
• you have cut rushes between 1 August and 1 March in a random pattern to create a mosaic of different height rush within the LPID. There are clearly identifiable areas within the rushes which have been cut
• you have not ploughed, cultivated or reseeded the area
• you have maintained a diary

Supporting guidance is available for this item.

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