# The Farming with Nature Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025, Paragraph 8: Eligible scheme actions; Arable – grass margin between 3 and 12 metres


An applicant creating a grass margin on arable land between 3 and 12 metres wide must–
(a) not create it on permanent grassland sensitive areas;
(b) not apply–
(i) organic fertilisers;
(ii) inorganic fertilisers; or
(iii) lime;
(c) not apply plant protection products, except for the spot treatment of noxious or invasive weeds;
(d) create it along part or for the entire field boundary, where the main field crop is cereal in line with normal husbandry practice;
(e) create it in a minimum area of 0.1 hectare;
(f) establish it using an untreated seed mix of tussock forming grasses and fine grasses listed in Table 1 of Schedule 6;
(g) protect it from grazing and damage by livestock or machinery;
(h) retain evidence, as the Department may specify, of the seed mix used;
(i) establish it by 28th February 2027; and
(j) retain it for at least 5 years beginning with 28th February 2027.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2025/101/schedule/1/paragraph/8 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/farming-with-nature-scheme-regulations-northern-ireland-2025/schedule-1/paragraph-8
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.