The Rural Stewardship Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2001

1.Bracken eradication – primary treatment is required in the first or second year of a bracken eradication programme (BEP) on any area of land identified in a BEP management plan, with Scottish Natural Heritage approved map.

a.Primary treatment by chemical means must be carried out at the full frond stage in the second (or exceptionally first) year of a five year BEP by application of herbicide approved by the Scottish Ministers for this purpose;

b.Primary treatment by mechanical means shall be by cutting twice during the first year of a five year BEP. If cutting is the method adopted, the programme of twice yearly treatments shall continue for the duration of the BEP; and

c.Aerial spraying may be carried out only with the prior written agreement of Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and any other appropriate consultees having regard to required periods of notice.

2.Rhododendron control.

3.Erection of–

(a)a stock fence;

(b)gate and posts;

(c)a single stile; or

(d)a double stile.

a.The construction and all materials must conform to the appropriate British Standards;

b.Except as otherwise provided, fence posts must be placed at intervals of no more than 3.5 metres or 12 metres where high tensile wire and droppers are used;

c.Except as otherwise provided, a fence must have a minimum of 6 line wires or 2 line wires and woven wire netting; and

d.Where fences are erected to enhance hedgerows they must be sited at least 1 metre from the centre line of the hedge.

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(e).Conversion of a stock fence to a deer fence.

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(f).Erection of a scare or temporary fence or rabbit proof netting.

a.A scare fence must consist of a minimum of 2 line wires with post at intervals of not more than 6 metres;

b.Rabbit proofing shall be carried out with galvanised wire netting. The netting must not be less than 1.05 metres wide British Standards designation 18 and have a mesh no larger than 31 millimetres. The top edge of the netting must not be less than 0.9 metres above ground level;

c.The netting shall be fastened to the fencing and the bottom edge of the netting must be buried in the ground to a suitable depth or turned outward and anchored; and

d.All gates in rabbit proofed fences must also be rabbit proofed.

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(g).Erection of a deer fence.

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(h).Erection of a deer fence marked to reduce bird collision.

a.Erect fence in accordance with specification at 3(g); and

b.In areas where black grouse and capercaillie occur, to make the fence more visible and thus reduce the number of collisions, a double strip of orange barrier netting must be used, each strip being approximately 45 centimetres in width. Both strips must be secured with pig rings/wire twists at intervals of circa. 30 centimetres on the upper and lower edges. The top of the upper strip should reach the top strand of the fence. The top of the lower strip must reach the middle strand of the fence. Alternative fence marking designs will require the prior written agreement of the Scottish Ministers.

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(i).Dismantling of a deer fence to remove a cause of bird death and injury by collision.

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(j).Erection of a post and rail fence as a tree guard or a water gate.

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(k).Erection of suitable fencing to trap blowing sand and in fill previously eroded dune areas.

4.Building or restoration of traditional drystone or flagstone dykes or walls.

5.Native species tree planting on a site no more than 0.25 hectare and including individual trees in hedgerows and along water margins or around the margin of a pond created or restored under the scheme.

a.Planting density must not exceed one tree per 10 square metres; and

b.Native species appropriate to the site must be planted.

6.Installation of tree guards and stakes or self-supporting tree guards required to protect amenity or native species tree and hedge planting.

7.Planting of marram grass into areas threatened with erosion.

a.Transplants must be harvested from areas where marram is well established and there is little danger from erosion;

b.Plants must be established at a density of at least 9 plants per square metre; and

c.Planting must take place in late spring or autumn.

8.Installation of a water trough required because the management of a water margin will result in stock being denied access to traditional watering points.

a.The water trough must be a purpose made item and incorporate a ballcock to shut off the water supply; and

b.The trough must be permanently mounted on a durable base and a stopcock must be provided to control the water supply.

9.Planting, replanting, coppicing or laying of a hedge to benefit a field boundary.

a.Where new hedging or gapping up of existing hedges is undertaken, plants must be established in a double row with a minimum of 6 plants per metre; and

b.A single species must not account for more than 75% of the plants established.

10.Replanting, coppicing or laying of a hedge in a designed landscape.

a.Where planting or gapping is required, plants must be established in a double row with a minimum of 6 plants per metre; and

b.Species selected for the replanting or gapping up must already be present within the existing hedge.

11.Creation or restoration of pond.

a.Any existing environmental interest must not be damaged;

b.The site must be capable of retaining water;

c.There must be an adequate water supply; and

d.Any outfall must be properly constructed. The last length of the buried pipe must be solid and frost-proof. The outfall must be at least 150 millimetres above normal discharge channel water level. The last 2 metres of buried pipe must be sealed with well rammed soil to avoid water flow outside the pipe. Headstones of cemented stones or bricks or purpose built installations will be needed to stabilise the bank and to keep the pipe in position. Drip stones or concrete aprons may be needed to prevent erosion of the discharge panel.

12.Sowing of species rich grass.

a.Any existing sward should first be destroyed by cultivation or herbicide treatment; and

b.A mixture consisting of no more than 85% fined leafed or non-aggressive grasses and at least 15% mixed native flowers must be sown.

13.Restoration of parkland gate piers.

14.Amenity tree planting.

15.Wooden post and rail fencing or metal tree guards to protect parkland trees.

16.Restoration of drystone or flagstone or walls and ha-has.