Rural Payments and Services

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

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

Land that is moorland, heathland or unimproved grassland with bracken 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:

• Moorland Management
• Species-rich Grassland Management
• Habitat Mosaic Management
• Heath Management (Coastal, Serpentine, Lowland and Special Interest)

You must also combine this item with the Follow-up Treatment of Bracken – Mechanised or Chemical item.

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 (chemical or mechanical) and identify the locations of sensitive areas and appropriate buffer zones.

The plan must also detail any proposed follow-up control.

• you must treat the area as detailed in your bracken management plan by either chemical or mechanical methods
• if spraying, you must ensure the chemical you are using is approved for bracken control
• if aerial spraying, your spray operator must have a permit from the Chemicals Regulation Directorate
• if spraying within one metre of the top of the bank of a watercourse you, or your spray operator, must have Scottish Environment Protection Agency authorisation
• if controlling bracken by mechanical methods, you must cut or crush the bracken and any regrowth. You may 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 must submit your claim between 1 September and 30 September.

You can claim £225.00 per hectare treated land.

Land that is ineligible for the Basic Payment Scheme can be treated, but cannot be claimed for payment.

You may apply for payment on an actual cost basis for this item if the work you are proposing to carry out will benefit the notified features of a designated site, and where there are exceptional circumstances.

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work
• you have treated the area as detailed in your bracken management plan
• you, or your spray operator, must have had Scottish Environment Protection Agency authorisation
• if aerial spraying, your spray operator had a permit from the Chemicals Regulation Directorate
• you have maintained a diary which includes the dates treatment was undertaken

Supporting guidance is available for this item.

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