What the action involves
This action’s aim is to:
- follow best practice management on moorland
- prevent degradation
The purpose of this is to:
- support habitats and species recovery
- protect historic and archaeological features
- improve the landscape character
What you must do
Your Natural England adviser will assess your land. They’ll work with you to adapt and agree the activities you must do to achieve this action’s aim. All mandatory activities will be set out in your agreement document.
The advice you’re given from Natural England is specific to your land which means (where relevant) you may need to:
- agree a moorland habitat plan with your Natural England adviser for any cutting or burning of heather, rough grass, bracken, gorse or vaccinium
- control dense rush so it does not cover more than an agreed area of land
- control scrub and bracken on the moorland so they do not become dominant vegetation, particularly on historic or archaeological features
You must report any accidental burns to the Rural Payments Agency.
You must not:
- apply pesticides – you may be able to use herbicides to spot-treat or weed-wipe for the control of injurious weeds, invasive non-native plant species, nettles or other plants if this has been agreed with your Natural England adviser
- carry out mechanical operations or other activity that may disturb breeding or non-breeding birds during the breeding season (typically mid-March to late July)
- maintain artificial drains
- plough, cultivate or reseed, harrow or roll unless part of your agreement
- apply any fertilisers, manures or lime (unless agreed with your Natural England adviser)
- create new access for vehicles – you can only use agreed existing access routes
- supplementary feed livestock on land entered into this action, unless this has been agreed with your Natural England adviser to support the purpose of this action
The feeding of hay or haylage is permitted in cases of extreme weather for the purpose of animal welfare only.
Extreme weather is defined as 2 or more consecutive days of deep snow or hard frost.
Read more about supplementary feeding in extreme weather in the advice section of this action.
When to do it
You must do this action each year of its duration.
Evidence to keep
You must keep evidence to show what you have done to complete this action. If it’s not clear that you have done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) may ask for this evidence.
You must supply the evidence if they ask for it, including:
- management activity on the action area for each parcel
- receipted invoices, consents or permissions connected with the work
- photographs of the extent of scrub and bracken on any historic and archaeological features on the site before works start
For each supplementary feed (due to extreme weather or as agreed), you must provide:
- a record of the time and date
- the location using maps and photographs
Eligible land
You can do this action on land that’s:
- an eligible land type
- registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
- declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover
Available area
Total available area in the land parcel.
Rotational or static
This action is static. This means you must do it on the same location each year of the action’s duration.
Consents and permissions
To apply for this action, you’ll need:
- to agree an implementation plan or feasibility study with your Natural England adviser if you intend to carry out moorland restoration
- Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments
- consent from Natural England for any activity on land designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)
You may need to:
- get a wildfire mitigation plan, if required
- get a moorland habitat plan agreed with your Natural England adviser for any cutting or burning of heather, rough grass, bracken, gorse or vaccinium
- get a wildlife licence from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitat
- get advice from your Forestry Commission woodland officer or Natural England adviser if you have other archaeological or historic features on your agreement land
All archaeological and historic features (including scheduled monuments) are identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).
If you’re a tenant, it’s your responsibility to check whether your tenancy agreement allows you to complete what’s required in the actions you choose. You may need your landlord’s consent.
Capital grants that support it
If you need to complete an implementation plan or a feasibility study before you apply, you can apply for funding through capital grants plans funding.
You can also apply for capital items to help you achieve the action’s aims. Your Natural England adviser will discuss eligible capital items with you.
