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Paragraph 15

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

(1)

The farmer shall prepare and agree with the Secretary of State a farm conservation plan for his land within the designated area. The conservation plan shall identify land and conservation features relevant to the requirements in paragraphs 1 to 14 above and shall contain details of the additional farming operations to be carried out as specified in sub-paragraph (2) below.

(2)
(a)

The restoration of dykes, walls, hedges and hedgerow trees to standards consistent with conservation interests;

(b)

the protection of areas of wetland or open water by—

(i)

sowing out adjacent fields not in pasture to permanent grass;

(ii)

not applying lime, fertiliser (except for establishment purposes in the first year of newly sown out grass) or herbicides (except for the control of spear-thistle

  • (cirsium vulgare), creeping or field thistle

  • (cirsium arvense), curled dock

  • (rumex crispus), broadleaved dock

  • (rumex obtusifolius)or ragwort

  • (senecio jacobaea) by means of weed wiper, spot treatment or hand spraying) to adjacent fields;

(iii)

fencing off areas of wetland and open water as necessary to avoid poaching and other damage;

(c)

if the farmer wishes on fields to be used for arable cropping either—

(i)

the control of spraying of pesticides and herbicides on a border of at least 6 metres width; or

(ii)

the creation of uncropped wildlife strips to allow the natural establishment of plants by—

(a)

ceasing production on a strip of land at least 6 metres wide from all borders of the field;

(b)

cultivating the ground to create a seed bed;

(c)

not applying chemical or organic fertiliser, lime, pesticides or herbicides (except for the control of spear-thistle

  • (cirsium vulgare), creeping or field thistle

  • (cirsium arvense), curled dock

  • (rumex crispus), broadleaved dock

  • (rumex obtusifolius)or ragwort

  • (senecio jacobaea) by means of weed wiper, spot treatment or hand spraying) or sowing out grass or other seed;

(d)

ensuring that the strip is not materially damaged by the passage of machinery;

(d)

any additional fencing work that may be necessary to implement the requirements specified in paragraphs 4 and 9 above.