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The Countryside Stewardship (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

S.I. 2022/141 · Made 16 February 2022

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

Agriculture, England

Countryside, England

Made 16th February 2022

Laid before Parliament 17th February 2022

Coming into force 11th March 2022

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations, with the consent of the Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 98 of the Environment Act 1995f1.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1995 c. 25, as amended by the Scotland Act 1998 (Consequential Modifications) (No.2) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1820). Section 98(5) defines the appropriate Minister. The functions of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (which related only to England) were transferred to the Secretary of State by virtue of article 2(2) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Dissolution) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/794).

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement, extent and application
  2. 2Amendment to the Countryside Stewardship (England) Regulations 2020
  3. Signature
  4. Schedule NEW PART 2 OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2020
  5. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement, extent and application

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Countryside Stewardship (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and come into force on 11th March 2022.

(2)

These Regulations extend to England and Wales but apply to England only.

2Amendment to the Countryside Stewardship (England) Regulations 2020

In the Countryside Stewardship (England) Regulations 2020f1, for Part 2 of the Schedule (management activities) substitute the new Part 2 set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Signature

Victoria Prentis

Minister of State

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

16th February 2022

We consent

Amanda Solloway

Michael Tomlinson

Two of the Lord Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

14th February 2022

NEW PART 2 OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2020

“PART 2

MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Column 1Column 2Column 3
Activity nameDescriptionMaximum payment rate per agreement year
1. Arable
(a)Nectar flower mixEstablishing and maintaining a mixture of pollen and nectar rich plants on arable land£579 per hectare (“ha”)
(b)Basic overwinter stubbleRetention of overwintered stubble until the following February£84 per ha
(c)Beetle banksCreation (if appropriate) or maintenance of beetle banks£636 per ha
(d)Skylark plotsCreation of skylark plots to access growing cereal£20 (£10 per plot minimum 2 plots per ha)
(e)Nesting plots for lapwing and stone curlewEstablishing and maintaining plots for ground-nesting birds£566 per ha
(f)Enhanced overwinter stubbleRetention of overwintered stubble until the following July£493 per ha
(g)Whole crop cerealsPlanting and harvesting whole crop cereals followed by overwintered stubble£554 per ha
(h)Flower-rich margins and plotsEstablishing flower-rich grass margins or plots as habitat and foraging for invertebrates and birds£628 per ha
(i)Winter bird foodEstablishing blocks or strips of cereals, brassicas and other plants providing food for farmland birds, especially for autumn and winter£640 per ha
(j)Unharvested cereal headlandCreation of an unharvested, open structured cereal crop for wildlife.£640 per ha
(k)Cultivated areas for arable plantsCreation of uncropped, cultivated areas for scarce and declining arable plants£544 per ha
(l)Supplementary winter feeding for farmland birdsSpreading winter feed mixture for birds in selected feeding areas£657 per tonne for every 2 ha of winter bird food
(m)Brassica fodder cropEstablishing and managing a brassica fodder crop as foraging sites for birds£100 per ha
(n)Harvested low input cerealEstablishing and managing an open-structure cereal crop as summer foraging for wildlife£266 per ha
(o)Two year sown legume fallowEstablishing and managing a legume fallow mix as food for farmland wildlife£569 per ha
(p)Autumn sown bumblebird mixEstablishing and managing a mix of flowering and seed bearing plants after harvest as food for farmland birds and insects£608 per ha
2. Boundaries, Trees and Orchards
(a)Protection of in-field trees on arable landProtection of in-field trees on arable land£475 per ha
(b)Protection of in-field trees on intensive grasslandProtection of in-field trees on intensive grassland£260 per ha
(c)Management of hedgerowsManagement of hedgerow (one-side)£9 per 100 metres (“m”) for 1 side of a hedge
(d)Management of traditional orchardsManagement of traditional orchards£247 per ha
(e)Creation of traditional orchardsCreation of traditional orchards£342 per ha
(f)Veteran tree surgeryCarrying out specialist tree surgery to extend the lifespan of veteran trees£326 per tree
(g)Supplement for restorative pruning of fruit treesRestorative pruning of mature fruit trees£96 per tree
3. Coastal
(a)Management of coastal sand dunes and vegetated shingleManagement of coastal sand dunes and vegetated shingle£299 per ha
(b)Creation of coastal sand dunes and vegetated shingle on arable land and improved grasslandCreation of coastal sand dunes and vegetated shingle on arable land and improved grassland£420 per ha
(c)Management of coastal saltmarshManagement of coastal saltmarsh£90 per ha
(d)Creation of inter-tidal and saline habitat on arable landCreation of inter-tidal and saline habitat on arable land£594 per ha
(e)Creation of inter-tidal and saline habitat by non-interventionCreation of inter-tidal and saline habitat by non-intervention£420 per ha
(f)Coastal vegetation management supplementManagement of grazing on saltmarsh or saline habitat£117 per ha
(g)Creation of inter-tidal and saline habitat on intensive grasslandCreation of inter-tidal and saline habitat on intensive grassland£422 per ha
4. Grassland
(a)Take small areas out of managementTaking small areas of permanent grassland out of management£365 per ha
(b)Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDAsf1)Management of permanent grassland with very low inputs outside SDAs£132 per ha
(c)Ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birdsEstablishing a ryegrass seed-set on grassland to provide food in the autumn and winter for birds£426 per ha
(d)Legume and herb-rich swardsEstablishment and maintenance of legume and herb-rich swards£358 per ha
(e)Permanent grassland with very low inputs in SDAsManagement of permanent grassland with very low inputs in SDAs£71 per ha
(f)Management of species-rich grasslandManagement of species-rich grassland£182 per ha
(g)Restoration towards species-rich grasslandRestoration towards species-rich grassland£205 per ha
(h)Creation of species-rich grasslandCreation of species-rich grassland£374 per ha
(i)Management of wet grassland for breeding wadersManagement of wet grassland for breeding waders£323 per ha
(j)Management of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowlManagement of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl£197 per ha
(k)Creation of wet grassland for breeding wadersCreation of wet grassland for breeding waders£480 per ha
(l)Creation of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowlCreation of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl£403 per ha
(m)Management of grassland for target featuresManagement of grassland for targeted habitats, species or features£131 per ha
(n)Creation of grassland for target featuresCreation of grassland for targeted habitats, species or features£372 per ha
(o)Haymaking supplementContinue or re-introduce haymaking on fields which are or were cut for hay once a year£85 per ha
(p)Rush infestation control supplementReduce rush cover in grassland with heavy infestations.£77 per ha
(q)Lenient grazing supplementManagement of grazing to provide spring and summer invertebrate food£44 per ha
5. Historic environment and landscape
(a)Maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm buildingsMaintenance of weatherproof traditional farm buildings£4.03 per square metre (“sq m”)
(b)Take historic and archaeological features out of cultivationTaking land with archaeological or historic features out of cultivation£459 per ha
(c)Reduced-depth, non-inversion cultivation on historic and archaeological featuresReducing damage to historical and archaeological features under cultivation by using non-inversion machinery and shallower cultivation depths£88 per ha
(d)Scrub control on historic and archaeological featuresControlling scrub on historic and archaeological features£163 per ha
(e)Management of historic and archaeological features on grasslandManagement of historic and archaeological features on grassland£39 per ha
(f)Maintenance of designed/ engineered water bodiesMaintenance of designed or engineered water bodies£480 per ha
(g)Management of historic water meadows through traditional irrigationManagement of historic water meadows through traditional irrigation£480 per ha
(h)Maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm buildings in remote areasMaintenance of weatherproof traditional farm buildings in remote areas£6.86 per sq m
(i)Restricted depth crop establishment to protect archaeology under an arable rotationRestricting the depth of crop establishment to protect archaeology under an arable rotation£199 per ha
6. Lowland heath
(a)Management of lowland heathlandManagement of lowland heathland£335 per ha
(b)Restoration of forestry and woodland to lowland heathlandRestoration of forestry and woodland to lowland heathland£214 per ha
(c)Creation of heathland from arable or improved grasslandCreation of lowland heathland from arable or improved grassland£577 per ha
7. Soil and water
(a)4-6m buffer strip on cultivated landCreation (where appropriate) and maintenance of 4m or 6m buffer strips on cultivated land£419 per ha
(b)4-6m buffer strip on intensive grasslandCreation (where appropriate) and maintenance of 4m or 6m buffer strips on intensive grassland£213 per ha
(c)In-field grass stripsCreation (where appropriate) and maintenance of dense grassy areas on cultivated land£624 per ha
(d)12-24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated landCreation (where appropriate) and maintenance of 12-24m buffer strips on cultivated land£578 per ha
(e)Enhanced management of maize cropsManagement of maize and a cover crop to reduce the risk of soil erosion and run off£159 per ha
(f)Winter cover cropsProvision of a cover crop to reduce nitrate leaching£124 per ha
(g)Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser inputReversion of arable land to grassland with low fertiliser input£321 per ha
(h)Management of intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourseManagement of intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse£202 per ha
(i)Seasonal livestock removal on intensive grasslandSeasonal removal of livestock from intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse£106 per ha
(j)Seasonal livestock removal on grassland in SDAs next to streams, rivers and lakesSeasonal removal of livestock from grassland adjacent to a watercourse in SDAs£63 per ha
(k)Riparian management stripPrevention of livestock access to a watercourse and provision of a buffer strip£480 per ha
(l)Making space for waterHelping water flow in a winding course across flood plains, flooding temporarily to restore river and wetland habitats£640 per ha
(m)Very low nitrogen inputs to groundwatersReduction of nutrient input to grassland£348 per ha
(n)Nil fertiliser supplementReduction of nutrient inputs to zero£148 per ha
(o)Flood mitigation on arable reversion to grasslandCreation of temporary water storage to mitigate flood risk on arable reversion to grassland£488 per ha
(p)Flood mitigation on permanent grasslandCreation of temporary water storage to mitigate flood risk on permanent grassland

£272 per ha

8. Uplands
(a)Enclosed rough grazingMaintain and enhance areas of enclosed rough grazing land within an upland farming system£43 per ha
(b)Management of rough grazing for birdsManagement of rough grazing habitat for birds£110 per ha
(c)Management of moorlandManagement of moorland£51 per ha
(d)Management of moorland vegetation supplementManagement of vegetation to restore and improve Priority Habitats£10 per ha
(e)Moorland re-wetting supplementMaintenance and restoration of vegetation mosaics and wetland habitats£23 per ha
(f)Upland livestock exclusion supplementManagement of upland through livestock exclusion£18 per ha
(g)Management of wood pasture and parklandManagement of existing upland wood pasture and parkland£212 per ha
(h)Restoration of wood pasture and parklandRestoration of upland wood pasture and parkland£316 per ha
(i)Creation of wood pastureCreation of new upland wood pasture£333 per ha
9. Woodland and scrub
(a)Woodland creation – Maintenance PaymentsMaintenance of newly created woodland£300 per ha
(b)Woodland ImprovementImprovement of existing woodland£100 per ha
(c)Woodland edges on arable landCreation of new woodland edge habitat£376 per ha
(d)Management of wood pasture and parklandManagement of existing lowland wood pasture and parkland£148 per ha
(e)Restoration of wood pasture and parklandRestoration of lowland wood pasture and parkland£329 per ha
(f)Creation of wood pastureCreation of new lowland wood pasture£499 per ha
(g)Management of successional areas and scrubManagement of successional areas and scrub£83 per ha
(h)Creation of successional areas and scrubCreation of successional areas and scrub£128 per ha
(i)Livestock exclusion supplement – scrub and successional areas.Exclusion of livestock from scrub and successional areas£121 per ha
10. Wetlands
(a)Buffering in-field ponds and ditches in improved grasslandCreation and maintenance of buffer strips for in-field ponds and ditches in improved grassland£275 per ha
(b)Buffering in-field ponds and ditches on arable landCreation and maintenance of buffer strips for in-field ponds and ditches on arable land£563 per ha
(c)Management of ditches of high environmental valueManagement of ditches of high environmental value (both sides)£42 per 100m for the management of both sides of the ditch
(d)Pond management (area less than or equal to 100 sq m)Management of small ponds of high wildlife value£114 per pond
(e)Pond management (area more than 100 sq m)Management of larger ponds of high wildlife value£202 per pond
(f)Management of reedbedManagement, maintenance and restoration of reedbed£80 per ha
(g)Creation of reedbedCreation of new areas of reedbed£323 per ha
(h)Management of fenManagement of fen and small areas of reedbed£39 per ha
(i)Creation of fenCreation of new areas of fen£507 per ha
(j)Management of lowland raised bogManagement of lowland raised bog£178 per ha
(k)Wetland cutting supplementCutting management of wetland habitats£480 per ha
(l)Wetland grazing supplementGrazing management of wetland habitats£407 per ha
11. Organic
(a)Overwintered stubbleRetaining overwinter stubble on organic land£156 per ha
(b)Wild bird seed mixtureEstablishing a mix of seed-bearing plants on organic land£640 per ha
(c)Supplementary feeding for farmland birdsSpreading winter feed mixture for birds in selected feeding areas on organic land£756 per tonne for every 2 ha of wild bird seed mixture
(d)Multi-species leyEstablishing and managing a multi-species ley on organic land£115 per ha
(e)Undersown cerealEstablishing an autumn or spring sown cereal crop undersown with a grass/flower-rich legume ley£233 per ha
12. Organic conversion
(a)Organic conversion – improved permanent grasslandConversion of improved permanent grassland to organic management£150 per ha per year for up to 2 years
(b)Organic conversion – unimproved permanent grasslandConversion of unimproved permanent grassland to organic management£76 per ha per year for up to 2 years
(c)Organic conversion – rotational landConversion of rotational land to organic management£256 per ha per year for up to 2 years
(d)Organic conversion – horticultureConversion of rotational land used to produce vegetables or salads into organic£602 per ha per year for up to 2 years
(e)Organic conversion – top fruitConversion of top fruit orchards or berry bushes to organic management£960 per ha per year for up to 3 years
13. Organic maintenance
(a)Organic land management - improved permanent grasslandMaintaining improved permanent grassland under organic management£40 per ha
(b)Organic land management - unimproved permanent grasslandMaintaining unimproved permanent grassland under organic management£31 per ha
(c)Organic land management - rotational landMaintaining rotational land under organic management£109 per ha
(d)Organic land management – horticultureMaintaining horticultural land under organic management£380 per ha
(e)Organic land management - top fruitMaintaining top fruit orchards or berry bushes under organic management£960 per ha
(f)Organic land management -enclosed rough grazingMaintaining enclosed rough grazing land under organic management£48 per ha
14. Additional supplements
(a)Difficult sites supplementManagement of particularly difficult sites£71 per ha
(b)Raised water level supplementRaising water levels in ditches and adjacent land£127 per ha
(c)Bracken control supplementControlling dense bracken£175 per ha
(d)Control of invasive plant species supplementControlling invasive plant species£340 per ha
(e)Shepherding supplementIntroducing, re-introducing or making significant changes to shepherding£8 per ha
(f)Cattle grazing supplementCattle grazing for conservation purposes£45 per ha
(g)Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of ScillyIntroduction of conservation grazing on the Isles of Scilly on land that is not currently grazed by cattle£279 per ha
(h)Native breeds at risk supplementGrazing native breeds at risk£142 per ha
(i)Threatened species supplementAdditional habitat management for named Priority Species£154 per ha
(j)Administration of group managed agreements supplementAdministering agreements with shared tenure£6 per ha
15. Educational access
(a)Education accessPermitting and making provision for access to farm land for educational visits£309 per visit

”

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Countryside Stewardship (England) Regulations 2020 (“the 2020 Regulations”) (S.I. 2020/41) and are made pursuant to section 98 of the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25).

Regulation 2 amends, with effect from 11th March 2022, the maximum payment rates per agreement year for management activities carried out as part of a countryside stewardship agreement under regulation 3 of the 2020 Regulations.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.