HLS agreement declaration 2021

PART 1A

Annual payments for ELS

AG00300016 / Version 53.0 / 08 Feb 2021 / Part 1A / Page 1 of 1

Your annual payment for ELS is as follows:

0

0 0 0 0

0 0

PART 1B

AG00300016 / Version 53.0 / 08 Feb 2021 / Part 1B / Page 1 of 1

Annual payment schedule for HLS options (excluding capital items)

PART 1C

AG00300016 / Version 53.0 / 08 Feb 2021 / Part 1C / Page 1 of 1

Annual payment schedule for all options (excluding capital items)

PART 2A

AG00300016 / Version 53.0 / 08 Feb 2021 / Part 2A / Page 1 of 37

Parcel based options summary

PART 2B

AG00300016 / Version 53.0 / 08 Feb 2021 / Part 2B / Page 1 of 1

Whole farm, rotational, farm buildings and access base payment options summary

PART 3

AG00300016 / Version 53.0 / 08 Feb 2021 / Part 3 / Page 1 of 27

HLS - Management of environmental features

General conditions on all HLS agreement land

On your HLS agreement land you must follow the general management conditions set out below, unless specifically stated otherwise in a subsequent section of this agreement. HLS agreement land is all land on which Higher Level Stewardship management prescriptions apply, including items within a Capital Works Plan

• Do not apply lime.
• On the conventional land that you manage: do not apply pesticides, except for the control of spear thistle, creeping thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock, common ragwort, nettles or other undesirable species named in your agreement. Herbicides may only be applied to these species by weedwiper or by spot treatment.
• Do not allow your agreement land to be levelled, infilled, used for the storage or dumping of materials or used by motor vehicles or machinery (except where necessary for the management of the land), if this is likely to cause long-term damage from rutting or compaction of the soil, or otherwise damage areas being managed under the scheme.
• Do not light fires (including burning brash or cuttings) where they could cause damage to features of archaeological or historic interest, or within ten metres of tree canopies or on any areas managed for their wildlife habitat interest. (This does not restrict your ability to manage heathland vegetation by controlled burning in compliance with the Heather and Grass Burning Regulations 1986 and accompanying Code.)
• Do not allow your agreement land to be used for organised games or sports, rallies, camping or caravanning, shows or sales where this is likely to damage areas being managed for their wildlife habitat interest or features of archaeological or historic interest; where this is likely to cause excessive or unreasonable disturbance to wildlife being encouraged under your agreement; or where this would cause unreasonable restriction to Public Rights of Way or "access land" as designated under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
• Do not carry out or permit metal detecting or archaeological fieldwork on any of the archaeological sites on your holding identified in your Farm Environment Plan, unless agreed with your Natural England adviser in writing. In some cases a derogation will also be required.

HC13 - Restoration of wood pasture and parkland

Land parcels and associated features managed under this option:

• RLR Field Number: SU16156486
• RLR Field Number: SU16168444
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU17129279
• RLR Field Number: SU18086060
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU18093001
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU19011010
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU19031493
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU19145050
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU19167388
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU19178571
• Features: M03 Lowland heath - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU20021837
• RLR Field Number: SU20085318
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU20103966
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU20108001
• RLR Field Number: SU20149895
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU21058301
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU21066583
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU21112060
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU21131070
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU21158001
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU22109030
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU22128636
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU22165686
• RLR Field Number: SU23022669
• RLR Field Number: SU23032901
• RLR Field Number: SU23117739
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU24029080
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU24047090
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU24073225
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU24108343
• RLR Field Number: SU24139937
• RLR Field Number: SU24144227
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU25053770
• RLR Field Number: SU25057027
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU25058878
• RLR Field Number: SU25066316
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU25086256
• RLR Field Number: SU25094527
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU25127633
• RLR Field Number: SU25146090
• RLR Field Number: SU25163090
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU25166409
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU26003020
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU26039356
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU26060280
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU26080145
• RLR Field Number: SU26143075
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU26145498
• RLR Field Number: SU26172710
• RLR Field Number: SU27004665
• RLR Field Number: SU27035418
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU27054773
• RLR Field Number: SU27071428
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU27082044
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU27117898
• RLR Field Number: SU27126217
• RLR Field Number: SU27128796
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU28042388
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU28049524
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU28059010
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU28063325
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU28136168
• RLR Field Number: SU29020165
• RLR Field Number: SU29039644
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU29094612
• RLR Field Number: SU29095750
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU29096427
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU29105749
• RLR Field Number: SU29106301
• RLR Field Number: SU29110051
• RLR Field Number: SU29111798
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU29114637
• RLR Field Number: SU29122893
• RLR Field Number: SU29128218
• RLR Field Number: SU29132533
• RLR Field Number: SU30031062
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU30040794
• RLR Field Number: SU30046942
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU30109918
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU30132404
• RLR Field Number: SU31024071
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU31071569
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU31092001
• RLR Field Number: SU31092030
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU32024001
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU32059642
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU32076223
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU32085925
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU33091462
• RLR Field Number: SU33104928
• RLR Field Number: SU34088050
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU35081393
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU35088010
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU35088161
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU35094524
• RLR Field Number: SU36041380
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU36070838
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU37070180
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU39062160
• RLR Field Number: SU39070948
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU40041355
• RLR Field Number: SU40063719
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU41043025
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU41046090
• RLR Field Number: SU41050150
• RLR Field Number: SU41053030
• RLR Field Number: SU41056003
• RLR Field Number: SU42041857
• RLR Field Number: SU42043071
• RLR Field Number: SZ22986080
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SZ34992138
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat
• RLR Field Number: SZ36992646
• Features: T03 Wood-pasture and Parkland - BAP Habitat

General description of the management required:

The aim of this option is to restore wood pasture (including the SAC habitats of pasture woodland, riverine woodland and bog woodland in the Open Forest) to favourable condition. This applies where land has been planted with conifers or where Scots pine has spread and trees or other non-natives need to be removed. The on-going commitments under agreement will be the protection and management of appropriate areas and continuation of the depasturing of domestic livestock ie cattle, ponies and pigs. Restoring wood pasture will enhance the historic and landscape character of the area.

Indicators of Success

• Tree species Oak / Ash / Field Maple / Birch / Alder should be present at irregular spacings and varying densities, with an overall density of between 25 and 50 trees/ha over 30% to 90% of the area.
• By year 3, cover of shrubs Hawthorn /Blackthorn /Holly should be between 5% and 50% of the area.
• By year 3, there should be between 20% and 80% of open grassland / heathland which has areas of closely grazed turf interspersed with taller tussocks.
• By year 10, cover of undesirable species such as Rhododendron and conifers should be less than 5%.
• All SSSI land should be in favourable or recovering condition.
• Archaeological and historic features have suffered no further degradation. The depth of soil covering the features has been maintained and appropriate vegetation cover is maintained or restored. Detrimental indicators (e.g. burrows, bare patches, scrub growth, poaching and erosion) cover less than 5% of the area. There should be no evidence of ground damage caused by inappropriate management.

Management Prescriptions; the dos and don’ts of management

The following rules apply across the whole area being managed under this option.

• Follow the agreed management plan produced by your Natural England adviser on 1st April 2017.
• Graze with cattle, ponies and pigs in pannage in years 1 to 10 to maintain areas of closely grazed turf interspersed with taller tussocks. Avoid poaching by managing stock carefully when ground conditions are wet. Supplementary feeding is not permitted
• Prevent damage to trees from livestock deer / grey squirrels / rabbits. This includes damage caused by browsing, bark stripping, rubbing against trees or guards and soil compaction below canopies.
• Ensure the establishment and maintenance of trees, shrubs and field layer by controlling pest species with methods agreed with your Natural England adviser.
• Unless otherwise agreed with your Natural England adviser, all mature or over-mature standing trees and all standing and fallen deadwood must be retained, unless it is a genuine safety hazard. Tree surgery must be limited to that required for the safety of people and livestock.
• There must be no application of nutrients such as fertilisers, organic manures or waste materials (including sewage sludge).
• Prevent shading to ancient trees by gradually removing other trees around them in a programme agreed in writing with your Natural England adviser.
• Control invasive and non-native species to achieve target condition. Remove 100% of Turkey oak, Sycamore, poplars, non-native maples and conifers, Rhododendron ponticum, and Japanese Knotweed.
• There must be no ploughing or other cultivation such as reseeding, rolling or chain harrowing.
• There must be no new drainage or modification to existing drainage systems unless specifically stated in a management plan and agreed with your Natural England contact.
• To protect the archaeological and historic features (shown on the historic environment record, subsequently added, or otherwise notified to the landowner) do not place anything likely to cause ground disturbance on or near the features. Do not locate new access routes on or near the features. Maintain vegetative cover over historic features. Prevent the development of burrows which would damage historic features.

HK7 - Restoration of species-rich, semi-natural grassland

Land parcels and associated features managed under this option:

• RLR Field Number: SU19167388
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU20085318
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU23117739
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU25066316
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU25127633
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU27071428
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU27140452
• RLR Field Number: SU27141330
• RLR Field Number: SU28042388
• RLR Field Number: SU28049524
• Features: G06 Lowland meadows and pastures- BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU28054801
• RLR Field Number: SU28063325
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU29025699
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU29105749
• RLR Field Number: SU29111798
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU29114637
• RLR Field Number: SU30021872
• RLR Field Number: SU30022160
• RLR Field Number: SU30033305
• RLR Field Number: SU30033310
• RLR Field Number: SU30040794
• RLR Field Number: SU30046942
• Features: G06 Lowland meadows and pastures- BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU30109918
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat, G06 Lowland meadows and pastures- BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU31071569
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU31114731
• RLR Field Number: SU32059642
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat, G06 Lowland meadows and pastures- BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU32085925
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat, G06 Lowland meadows and pastures- BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SU37010470
• RLR Field Number: SZ22983263
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SZ23982576
• RLR Field Number: SZ24981165
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat
• RLR Field Number: SZ34992138
• Features: G05 Lowland dry acid grassland - BAP habitat

General description of the management required:

This option is targeted at dry and wet grasslands, and associated permanent and temporary ponds in the Open Forest that are potentially rich in plant and associated animal life. They are sometimes on difficult ground and may have suffered from issues such as drainage, invasive species (including bracken, scrub and non-native species), eutrophication and under/overgrazing.

Indicators of Success

• The Soil Phosphate Index should be 0 or 1.
• At least 2 indicator species are frequent(such as Cladonia lichens, heath bedstraw, ladies bedstraw, bird’s-foot trefoil, betony, bilberry, heath speedwell, mouse-eared hawkweed, sheep’s sorrel, meadow thistle, marsh bedstraw, greater bird’s-foot trefoil, orchid spp, devil’s-bit scabious, marsh valerian, marsh violet, glaucous sedge, common sedge and carnation sedge etc. For full list refer to SAC plan and Favourable Condition tables) and an additional 4 are at least occasional in the sward.
• All SSSI land should be in favourable or recovering condition.
• By year 5, cover of bracken should be less than 20% (although 50-90% cover is acceptable for the ‘bracken/heath bedstraw community’).
• Cover of bare ground should be between 1% and 10% in an intimate mosaic with the vegetation including hoof prints, but not as a result of heavy poaching due to stock concentrations (such as due to artificial feeding).
• Archaeological and historic features suffered no further degradation. The depth of soil covering the features has been maintained and appropriate vegetation cover is maintained or restored. Detrimental indicators (e.g. burrows, bare patches, scrub growth, poaching and erosion) cover less than 5% of the area of the historic feature. There should be no evidence of ground damage caused by inappropriate management.
• The Soil Phosphate Index should be in the range of 0 to1.
• By year 5 cover of species indicating water logging, rush (Juncus) species should be less than 80% cover, with no more than 50% cover of soft, hard and compact rush. Marsh thistle should have no more than 20% cover, tufted hair grass no more than 10% cover and marsh ragwort no more than 5% cover in any unit.
• By year 2, cover of bog myrtle should be less than 10%.
• By year 5, cover of invasive trees and scrub is less than 5%, other than common gorse (as scattered brakes) which must be less than 30%. Non-native scrub including Rhododendron should be less than 1% with an aspiration of nil by year 10.

Management Prescriptions; the dos and don’ts of management

The following rules apply across the whole area being managed under this option.

• Follow the agreed management plan produced by your Natural England Advisor on 1st April 2017.
• In all years, manage the sward by grazing with domestic cattle and ponies to achieve a sward height of between 1cm and 5cm in summer.
• There must be no application of nutrients such as fertilisers, organic manures or waste materials including sewage sludge.
• Supplementary feeding is confined to the feeding of hay or concentrates where agreed with your Natural England adviser) and restricted to authorised locations on non-sensitive habitats and localities.
• Control undesirable species (such as injurious weeds and rosebay willowherb) by localised cutting/topping so that by year 3, their cover is less than 5% of the area. Agree all methods of control with your Natural England adviser.
• Do not install new drainage or modify existing drainage systems unless agreed with your Natural England adviser.
• Ploughing, sub-surface cultivation and reseeding are not permitted . Chain harrowing or rolling are not permitted.
• Field operations and stocking (including stock feeding) must not damage the soil structure or cause heavy poaching. Take particular care when the land is waterlogged.
• To protect the archaeological and historic features (shown on the historic environment record, subsequently added, or otherwise notified to the landowner) do not place anything likely to cause ground disturbance on or near the features. Do not locate new access routes on or near the features. Maintain vegetative cover over historic features. Prevent the development of animal burrows which would damage historic features.

HN8 - Educational access - base payment

General description of the management required:

This option offers an incentive to land managers to host educational visits by school groups or other groups for curriculum studies at all levels or to learn about the relationship between commoning, farming, conservation, and food production. You are required to produce a Farm Facts Leaflet and a Teachers Information Pack if carrying out school visits. Farmers or other individuals leading group visits are encouraged to become accredited. Costs for CEVAS (Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme run by FACE –Farming and Countryside Education) training can be claimed for under the scheme.

Management Requirements

The following rules apply across the area of agreement land being used for this option.

• Access areas and routes must be kept safe for users and reasonably free from litter.
• Animals which are known to be, or are likely to be dangerous, such as aggressive dairy bulls, must not be kept on land being used for educational access visits (note this applies to the land where the school groups will be taken – not necessarily the whole Open Forest).
• Organised games or sports, camping or overnight stays, visitors carrying firearms or use by motor vehicles (except where necessary for the management of the land) must be managed in accordance with FC policy and practice and must not be allowed to interfere with any organized school visits.
• Activities on land adjoining permissive access areas and which are within your control must not interfere with the educational access visits.
• Carry out a Health and Safety check and prepare a Risk Assessment for the land, and show this to potential group leaders.
• Discuss insurance implications with your insurer, and the Local Education Authority if appropriate, and ensure that adequate public liability insurance cover is held.
• Prepare and submit a draft Farm Facts Leaflet to Natural England.
• Encourage Group Leaders to visit the access area prior to bringing the whole group.
• Carry out adequate promotion to ensure a minimum of 25 school group visits every year.
• Conduct at least 25 (up to a maximum of 50 that may be claimed for) school group visits each year. All visits must be free of charge. Eligible visits comprise groups in the age range 7-16 years i.e. school Key Stages 2, 3 and 4. They should comprise a conducted tour of parts of the agreement land to fit the requirements of the group concerned, normally lasting at least two hours. Groups should be a minimum of 10 people.
• Provide at least 3 training events for targeted audiences to encourage better management of the New Forest towards achieving the agreements objectives, and develop a programme of at least 3 such events per year. Each event to be provided free of charge, last a minimum of 2 hours and be attended by a minimum of 10 attendees.
• Prepare and submit a Teachers' Information Pack to your Natural England contact within three months of signing the agreement. This may be part funded by a capital grant.
• Provide copies of the Teachers' Information Pack to prospective school groups when requested.
• Submit Visit/Event Evaluation forms (one for each visit claimed for) with your annual claim form.

Indicators of Success

• By year 2, there should be evidence, such as letters of support or Visit/Event Evaluation forms to show that the provision of educational access has been well-used.
• There should be evidence that the agreement holder has carried out their own publicity and promotion.
• By end year 2 at least 2 people leading Educational Visits have obtained CEVAS accreditation.
• A minimum of 250 school children in the target age range should benefit from educational visits each year (with an aspiration for 500+).
• A minimum of 30 people have attended ‘best practice’ training events each year.

HN9 - Educational access - payment per visit

Land parcels and associated features managed under this option:

This option is either Whole Farm or Rotational

General description of the management required:

This option offers an incentive to land managers to host educational visits by school groups or other groups for curriculum studies at all levels or to learn about the relationship between farming, conservation, and food production. Land managers are required to produce a Farm Facts Leaflet for all visits and a Teachers Information Pack if carrying out school visits.

Indicators of Success

• By year 2, there should be evidence, such as letters of support or Farm Visit Evaluation forms to show that the provision of educational access has been well-used.
• There should be evidence that the agreement holder has carried out their own publicity and promotion.

Management Prescriptions; the dos and don’ts of management

The following rules apply across the whole area being managed under this option.

• Carry out a Health and Safety check and prepare a Risk Assessment for the farm, and show this to potential school group leaders.
• Discuss insurance implications with your insurer, and the Local Education Authority if appropriate, and ensure that adequate public liability insurance cover is held.
• If you have not already done so, provide details to Natural England to prepare a Farm Facts Leaflet.
• Strongly encourage teachers to make a pre-visit to the farm prior to bringing the class.
• Carry out adequate promotion to ensure a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 50 school visits every year.
• Provide copies of the Teachers' Information Pack to prospective school groups when requested.
• Submit Farm Visit Evaluation forms when requested by Natural England.
• Conduct at least twenty five (up to a maximum of fifty that may be claimed for) free school group visits each year. Eligible visits comprise groups in the age range 7-16 years i.e. school Key Stages 2, 3 and 4. They should comprise a conducted tour of parts of the agreement land to fit the requirements of the group concerned, normally lasting at least two hours. Groups should be a minimum of 6 people.

HO2 - Restoration of lowland heath

Land parcels and associated features managed under this option:

RLR Field Numbers and features list continues across multiple pages (Part 3 pages 15–19) as extracted.

General description of the management required:

This option aims to encourage the restoration of lowland heathland, including both dry and wet heathland, and mire habitats in the Open Forest. Such sites are likely to have become degraded by scrub, bracken, secondary woodland encroachment or inappropriate drainage. Management will help to restore and strengthen the vegetation mosaics characteristic of lowland heathland, and thus enhance the integrity of the historic landscape character of the area.

Indicators of Success

• By year 5, cover of dwarf shrubs should be between 10% and 90%.
• Cover of dwarf shrubs (by year 10) at least 2 species Calluna, bell heather or crossed-leaved heather should be between 25% and 95%.
• By year 5, there should be a wide range of age classes of ericaceous shrubs present. This should include at least 10% cover of pioneer stage and between 20% and 50% cover of mature/degenerate stage.
• By year 10, there should be a wide range of age classes of dwarf shrubs present. This should include between 10% and 15% cover of pioneer stage / between 10% and 30% cover of degenerate stage and no more than 10% cover of dead dwarf shrubs.
• By year 5, recently burnt areas should cover less than 20% of the land.
• By year 10, recently burnt areas should cover less than 10% of the land.
• By year 5, cover of Common Gorse should be less than 50%.
• By year 5, a firebreak network should be established over at least 50% of the land.
• By year 5, at least 2 desirable wildflower species such as dwarf gorse, heath milkwort, tormentil, sundew spp, marsh St.Johns-wort, marsh pennywort, bogbean and bog asphodel should be occasional in heathland and frequent in mires.
• By year 10, cover of bryophytes and lichens should be at least 10%.
• All SSSI land should be in favourable or recovering condition.
• Archaeological and historic features have suffered no further degradation. The depth of soil covering the features has been maintained and appropriate vegetation cover is maintained or restored. Detrimental indicators (e.g. burrows, bare patches, scrub growth, poaching and erosion) cover less than 5% of the area of the historic feature. There should be no evidence of damage caused by inappropriate heather burning or physical management.
• By year 5, cover of bare ground should be between 1% and 10% as an intimate mosaic with the vegetation, but not as a result of stock feeding or human disturbance.

Management Prescriptions; the dos and don’ts of management

The following rules apply across the whole area being managed under this option.

• Remove areas of scrub and invasive trees agreed with your Natural England contact, together with arisings, or burn on metal sheets and remove ash. Control unbrowsed regrowth with approved herbicide or by stump winching but do not carry out stump removal on archaeological features.
• Restore a balanced range of dwarf shrub age classes by burning, or cutting and removing a number of patches each year. The area to be restored will depend on existing structure composition, but each should be less than 5ha (exceptionally up to 10ha).
• Control bracken in areas agreed with your Natural England adviser. Do this in accordance with management plan produced by your Natural England adviser on 31st January 2017. Use an approved herbicide or, if no ground-nesting birds, deer or other vulnerable wildlife are present, cut twice annually or bruise with a suitable roller. Remove or till the compact litter mat where it is greater than 5cm deep. Take advice from your Natural England adviser if the work will be done on areas with archaeological interest.
• In areas targeted to benefit rare species and where no bare ground exists, remove turf from small 5-20m2 areas or strips to create a number of patches scattered in unshaded areas across the site. A small pushed blade is the preferred tool to use for turf removal. Do not use this prescription on archaeological sites or historic features.
• Implement plans to reverse any drainage of wet heath or mire to restore original hydrology.
• On sites supporting dry heath provide fire control measures as agreed with your Natural England adviser, including fire breaks, a fire plan in keeping with the Crown Lands Fire and Emergency Plan.
• After successful establishment, operations involving ploughing, sub-surface cultivation, reseeding, installation of new drainage or modification of existing drainage systems are not permitted unless agreed with your Natural England adviser.
• Do not apply fertilisers, organic manures, lime or waste materials (including sewage sludge).
• Supplementary feeding is restricted to authorised locations on non-sensitive habitats and localities.
• Control undesirable plant species such as Creeping Thistle /Spear Thistle /Curled Dock /Broad-leaved Dock / Common Ragwort / Rhododendron/ Cotoneaster and Gaultheria, so that by year 5 their cover is less than 15% and by year 10 their cover is less than 10%. Agree control methods with your Natural England contact.
• Control trees / scrub so that by year 5 their cover is less than 25% and by year 10 their cover is less than 15%. Some scrub and trees should be maintained.
• To protect the archaeological and historic features (shown on the historic environment record, subsequently added, or otherwise notified to the landowner) do not place anything likely to cause ground disturbance on or near the features. Do not locate new access routes on or near the features. Maintain vegetative cover over historic features where appropriate. Where possible prevent the development of animal burrows which would damage historic features.
• Follow the agreed management plan produced by your Natural England Adviser on 1st April 2017.
• Graze with cattle and ponies suitable for the conditions, to control scrub and grasses and establish a structural mosaic in dwarf shrub stands.
• Supplementary feeding is restricted to authorised locations on non-sensitive habitats and localities.
• Remove areas of scrub and invasive trees agreed with your Natural England contact, together with arisings, or burn and remove ash. Control unbrowsed regrowth with approved herbicide or by stump winching but do not carry out stump removal on archaeological features.
• Implement plans to reverse any drainage of wet heath or mire to restore the original hydrology.
• Control undesirable plant species such as injurious weeds, so that by year 10 their cover is less than 1%.

HR1 - Grazing supplement for cattle

General description of the management required:

This supplement is aimed at promoting grazing by cattle where this is likely to be beneficial in meeting environmental objectives. Cattle grazing produces a more varied sward structure than sheep grazing and is often better for diversity of plants, invertebrates and birds. Cattle treading also creates patches of bare soil where new plants can establish.

Indicators of Success

• The success of this supplement will be judged on achievement of Indicators of Success for the option which it overlays.

Management Prescriptions; the dos and don’ts of management

The following rules apply across the whole area being managed under this option.

• Cattle will be the one of the main grazing species together with ponies. They will comprise at least 30% of the livestock unit grazing days on the parcel.

PART 4

AG00300016 / Version 53.0 / 08 Feb 2021 / Part 4 / Page 1 of 3

Capital works plan and payments

Schedule of works:

Works for each plan must be completed by the end date of the plan.

Failure to complete and submit a claim for items by the date shown may be considered by the Rural Payments Agency as a breach of your agreement and you may have to repay any grant received, including payments for annual options.

Claim profile:

The work values and the periods in which they are expected to be completed are shown in the following table. You will be expected to complete works at least equal to this amount.

PART 5

AG00300016 / Version 53.0 / 08 Feb 2021 / Part 5 / Page 1 of 14

Capital works specifications

Introduction

The specifications set out below describe the minimum standard of work for the capital items set out in Part 4 of your Environmental Stewardship Agreement. If you do not follow these specifications we cannot pay you for the work.

All capital works must be completed and maintained to the standard required to perform their intended function for the duration of the agreement.

If this agreement replaces an existing or expired CSS, ESA or ES agreement, you must take all reasonable care to protect, for the duration of this new agreement, any capital works which you have completed and for which you have been paid under that agreement.

Health and Safety

The requirements of health and safety and other current legislation and codes of practice must be observed in all work undertaken, in particular in all cases where pesticides are used.

Permissions

The offer of a Stewardship agreement is a permission from Natural England to undertake the work on SSSI land under Section 28E of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). However, additional permissions from other organisations may be required.

The following are examples of permissions that may be necessary:

• On a Scheduled Ancient Monument - Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent, from Historic England.
• Pond creation, restoration, scrape creation, restoration, and ditch work - may require an Impoundment Licence or Abstraction Licence from the Environment Agency, Planning Permission from the planning authority, and permission from the Internal Drainage Board where these are present.
• Obstructions to water courses or in the floodplain. This includes disposal of spoil from ditches, scrapes and ponds, tree planting, otter holts, car parking, erecting sluices and river gates and fencing - permission from the Environment Agency.
• Works in a Conservation Area - consent from the Planning Authority
• Tree Preservation Order - consent from the local authority
• Tree felling, pollarding, hedgerow works, coppicing bankside trees - may require a felling licence from the Forestry Commission.
• Chemical bracken control - near water course will require permission from the Environment Agency
• Areas for parking cars, hard standing, earthworks - may require planning permission from the Planning Authority
• Proposed changes to the existing type of stile or gate on a right of way - consent from the Highway Authority

ACCESS CAPITAL ITEM

Work carried out as an Access Capital Item must follow the specifications or brief given below:

Background

Improved management of access by cyclists through upgrade of Cycle Waymarkers on the open forest, use of cycle counters, production of cycle network maps and cycle management signage.

Specification.

Waymarker posts are square allowing for more than 2-way directions to be displayed. The plaque design will be clearer to cyclists by switching to a green directional arrow on a white background. Posts will have a sloped top to shed water and allow the information plate to be displayed clearly, rather than it being on a small tag at the base of the post. Information plate will display unique post number and in addition National Grid Reference on key posts only. Posts still allow for additional information plaques such as warning advice should it be required. The waymarker posts are slightly shorter than existing posts allowing the top to be visible whilst passing.

Cycle Route maps. Redesigned to provide clarity and ease of use. Printed on A2.

Cycle Management signs – Car Parks: A3, weather/uv resistant signs on existing information posts within x 100 Car Parks from which cycling is not permitted.

Cycle management signs - Barriers: 300mm x 73mm x 3mm weather and uv resistant material, white lettering on green x 200.

Work to be completed by February 2012

LIVESTOCK HANDLING FACILITIES

Background

Provision of pound 15m x 4m for handling depastured stock over a wide area of 4-500ha is necessary to allow Agisters to catch and handle stock to assist with their welfare.

The design and construction of appropriate facilities is dependent on site-specific conditions. The approved design must consider as a minimum animal welfare, health and safety of staff, livestock type, and visual impact of the structureConstruction of the pound will be carried out in a similar manner to the existing pounds in the New Forest.

The location and design must be agreed with your Natural England contact.

You should ensure any relevant consents are gained before carrying out the work e.g. consent from the Natural England SSSI specialist for work affecting a SSSI.

The handling facilities must be maintained in good condition for the duration of the agreement.

Work to be completed by February 2013.

FENCING SUPPLEMENT - DIFFICULT SITES

The fencing associated with this supplement must be carried out to the relevant specification. The supplement is towards the extra work involved on particularly difficult sites e.g. where steep slopes prevent machine access, or underlying rock or topography requires additional posts.

WOODEN FIELD GATE

The field gate must be erected in accordance with British Standard 3470 and should be made of timber, unless agreed otherwise with your Natural England contact. All timber must be fully peeled and tanalised or treated with an approved preservative. The gate must be soundly framed and constructed in a traditional and appropriate local style. The height must correspond to the adjoining fence and the gate must be fitted with the appropriate fittings required for its operation.

Where there is no local style a standard style can be used as follows:

• Width of gate - up to 3 metres/over 3 metres
• Top rail - 100mm x 75mm/125mm x 75mm
• tapered to - 75mm x 75mm/75mm x 75mm
• Under rails - 75mm x 25mm/75mm x 25mm
• Braces - 75mm x 25mm/75mm x 25mm
• Hanging stile - 100mm x 75mm/125mm x 75mm
• Shutting stile - 75mm x 75mm/75mm x 75mm

The gate must be hung and clapped independently of the adjoining fence line i.e. the hanging post must not be used as an end strainer.

Gate posts should either be set at least 900mm into the ground and surrounded with concrete at least 450x450x600mm deep; or, where ground conditions are suitable, may be erected without concrete surrounds and should be set at least 1.1 metre below the ground surface with the soil well compacted around the posts in 150mm layers. The top of the posts should be weather capped.

New gateposts should avoid sites of archaeological interest. You should ensure any relevant consents are gained before carrying out the work e.g. Schedule Monument consent from English Heritage.

The gate should be maintained in good condition for the life of the agreement.

HISTORICAL & ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURE PROTECTION

Work carried out under this Capital Item is dependent on site-specific conditions and variables. The work undertaken must be in accordance with a specification to be provided to and agreed with your Natural England contact.

You should ensure any relevant consents are gained before carrying out the work e.g. Scheduled Monument consent from English Heritage.

All sites must be on land parcels included in the agreement area.

Works under the code will normally be paid at a % of costs to be determined on a case by case basis. This may be up to 100%.

1. Eyeworth Gunpowder Factory Weir
   Maintenance of waterfall, restoration of railing, removal of vegetation etc (as proposed by the New Forest History and Archaeology Group)
   100%
2. Beaulieu Aerodrome
   Rubble removal & tidy up previous inadequate restoration, livestock hazard (as proposed by the New Forest History and Archaeology Group)
   100%
3. Long Bottom Observers Hut
   Restoration and repair of brickwork along with removal of machinery (as proposed by the New Forest History and Archaeology Group)
   100%
4. Ashley Framentation Range Observers Hut
   Structural report and assessment to inform restoration (as proposed by the New Forest History and Archaeology Group)
   100%
5. Murray and Carter Stones
   Stones require cleaning and restoration (as proposed by the New Forest History and Archaeology Group)
   100%

HN8CW - EDUCATIONAL ACCESS - BASE PAYMENT

General

This option offers an incentive to land managers to host educational visits by school groups or other groups for curriculum studies or to learn about the relationship between farming, conservation, and food production.

Please refer to HN9CW specifications for details.

HN9CW - PAYMENT PER VISIT

General

This option offers an incentive to land managers to host educational visits by school groups or other groups for curriculum studies or to learn about the relationship between farming, conservation and food production.

Payment will be made on the basis of the number of free Educational Access visits carried out on the agreement, as evidenced by the Farm Visits Evaluation forms submitted with the claim.

The following rules apply to this option and must be adhered to in order for payment of both this option and the underlying HN8CW option to be made.

• Carry out a Health and Safety check and prepare a Risk Assessment for the farm, and show this to potential school group leaders.
• Discuss insurance implications with your insurer, and the Local Education Authority if appropriate, and ensure that adequate public liability insurance cover is held.
• If you have not already done so, provide details to Natural England to prepare a Farm Facts Leaflet.
• Strongly encourage teachers/visit leaders to make a pre-visit to the farm prior to bringing the class.
• Carry out adequate promotion to ensure a minimum of four and, unless otherwise agreed with Natural England, a maximum of 25 school visits every year. Visits should comprise of a conducted tour of the farm to fit the requirements of the class concerned, normally lasting at least two hours and should normally be a minimum of six people.
• Submit Farm Visit Evaluation forms.

SPECIAL PROJECT

Work carried out as a Special Project must follow the specifications or brief given below:

Removal of 1000 concrete fence posts from the New Forest in 2 phases. At present these are an eyesore and present a safety hazard to users of (especially where the cycle track runs alongside) the forest. They also act as a barrier to grazing and their removal will provide ecological benefit and help maintain the favourable condition of the New Forest SSSI. It would also provide an enhancement to the aesthetic appeal of the landscape.

Work to be completed by Feb 2012 with machinery that will provide minimal ground disturbance.

Special project

Purpose

To provide fencing in relation to the New Forest HLS agreement which is required for the following purposes:

Stock control of 4600 semi feral ponies and 2500 cattle currently depastured on the New Forest and required for Conservation grazing for ecological reasons and in order to maintain favourable condition of the SSSI In addition fencing is also required for the stock management including welfare issues, such as TB immunisation and removal of stock when necessary. Significant HLS application covering 19447.52 ha.

Fencing and Gates

Post and wire fencing totalling 15310m with 22 gates as standard items. In the following 6 key locations Markway, Dames Slough, Pond Hill, Ipley Dur Hill and Slufters. As per information supplied.

All to be erected in accordance with prescriptions provided for post and wire fencing and gates.

Fences must be maintained to this specification for the life of the agreement.

Work to be completed by February 2013

Special Project

To undertake 20,000 metres of car free ditching in order to protect the SSSI, grazing and landscape resource from damage resulting in unauthorised vehicular access at a cost of £1.90 per metre.

The intended function is to protect the designated SSSI/SAC/SPA and RAMSAR sites of the New Forest and preserve the landscape from unsightly and damaging erosion through illegal tracks. Vehicular Access (guttering) defences were first installed in the New Forest in the 1970’s by the Forestry Commission (FC) as a means to control unauthorised vehicular access across the Forest. Over the years, due to minimal resource, many of this guttering has deteriorated to a stage where it no longer perform its intended function and is in need of renewal.

With the increase in visitor numbers to the New Forest over the last decade, there is an increase need to fund guttering. There is no statutory obligation on the Forestry Commission to fund or maintain such guttering ‘defences’. Any works that the Forestry Commission have undertaken previous have been on an ‘ad hoc’ basis as and when resources have allowed and are not part of a planned programme

Outline of work

As per maps and information supplied to Natural England and to be claimed for by February 2013

HELP TO PREPARE A TEACHERS' INFORMATION PACK

This item is available specifically in conjunction with the payment for providing educational access, where it is intended that school groups should visit. It supports the drafting and production of a high quality information package tailored to the site visits, to be produced either by the agreement holder or by using outside professional assistance.

A template CD Rom is available from NE giving examples, guidance and resources to be used in producing the Teachers' Pack. It also covers topics such as health and safety and other information to consider prior to visits and includes ideas as to how the farm can be used to study National Curriculum subjects.

This grant should not be used to produce visitors' leaflets or promotional material.

CREATION OF GUTTERS

Excavation of gutters must not damage sites of ecological or archaeological interest. Ditch specification (depth, angle of slope etc) must be agreed with Natural England and other relevant Agencies before work commences.

You should ensure any relevant consents are gained before carrying out the work e.g. Land Drainage Consent from the Environment Agency and consent from the Internal Drainage Board.

Cut gutters into a field leading from a ditch with high water level control. The gutters should link the in-field low points to the ditch. Gutters should be at least 300mm deep x 200mm wide.

Spoil may be spread thinly over the field or may be used to fill in low points in droves, gateways or embankments. Do not infill wet hollows or place spoil on sites of archaeological importance and do not smother bank side or field habitats. Gutters will need re-digging every few years to keep them open.

PART 6

AG00300016 / Version 53.0 / 08 Feb 2021 / Part 6 / Page 1 of 2

Grassland management

Where this Agreement includes grassland management, you must maintain the areas of permanent grassland, and at least 80% of the area of temporary grassland, on your farm* as set out below for the duration of your agreement.

Total permanent grassland: 8,553.35

In addition, you must not over-graze or under-utilise any of these areas and you must not exceed the maximum stocking density as also set out below.

Maximum stocking density for your farm permitted under this Agreement Lu/Ha 0.25

Total temporary grassland: 0.00

Total area of grassland (permanent + temporary): 8553.35

* "Farm" means the coherent area of land which is managed under the charge of the Agreement Holder for the period of this Agreement. Land occupied under short term tenancies and temporary grass keeps should not be included.