{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/common-agricultural-policy-single-payment-scheme-set-aside-wales-regulations-2005/schedule-1/paragraph-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/common-agricultural-policy-single-payment-scheme-set-aside-wales-regulations-2005/schedule-1/paragraph-4.json",
  "legislation": "wsi/2005/45",
  "legislation_title": "The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment Scheme (Set-aside) (Wales) Regulations 2005",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/common-agricultural-policy-single-payment-scheme-set-aside-wales-regulations-2005",
  "path": "schedule/1/paragraph/4",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "The wild bird cover option",
  "text": "(1) In each field or part of a field to be managed in accordance with the wild bird cover option, a farmer must —\n(a) subject to sub-paragraph (2) and paragraph 7, either —\n(i) establish a green cover by the start of the current green cover season by allowing natural regeneration following the last crop produced in that field or part of a field in the previous year; or\n(ii) establish a green cover by the start of the current green cover season by sowing a relevant mixture of seed.\n(b) where a green cover was established by the start of the current green cover season in accordance with sub-paragraph (a)(i) —\n(i) maintain that green cover until it is replaced in accordance with sub-paragraph (ii); and\n(ii) replace that green cover by sowing a new green cover comprising a relevant mixture of seed as early as is practicable after the start of the current green cover season and the destruction of the green cover that is to be replaced;\n(c) subject to paragraph 8, 12 and 13, maintain the green cover established under paragraph (a)(ii) or (b)(ii) until the end of the relevant period; and\n(d) cut or destroy the cover in accordance with paragraph 6, unless —\n(i) the field is to be set aside from production in the following year; and\n(ii) the farmer has not harvested any of the green cover, or permitted any of it to be harvested or grazed, in the current year.\n(2) The requirement to establish a green cover in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(a) does not apply —\n(a) in 2005, where —\n(i) the field or part of a field was set aside in 2004 pursuant to Article 6 of Council Regulation 1251/1999 and was managed during that year in accordance with the wild bird cover option set out in paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 to the Arable Area Payments Regulations 1996; and\n(ii) the green cover established in accordance with the requirements of that option has been maintained until the beginning of the current green cover season; and\n(b) in 2006 and in each year thereafter, where —\n(i) the field or part of a field was set aside in the previous year;\n(ii) the field or part of a field was managed during that year in accordance with the wild bird cover option; and\n(iii) the green cover established in accordance with the requirements of that option has been maintained until the beginning of the current green cover season in the year in question.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2005/45/schedule/1/paragraph/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T00:07:15.785071+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}