(i) Livestock must be excluded from the site for 6 consecutive weeks between 1st April and 15th June; or

(ii) If no barrier exists between the site and adjoining pasture, overall grazing levels must not exceed 1.4 livestock units per hectare for 6 consecutive weeks between 1st April and 15th June;

b. If rushes occur within the site a programme of cutting, grazing or exceptionally, herbicide treatment to prevent the rushes dominating the site must be agreed with the Scottish Ministers. Note that all rushes should not be removed from the site; and

c. Artificial fertiliser or slurry must not be applied to the site. Farmyard manure may be applied up to 28th February and after 15th May.

(i) The site must not be grazed or mown for 3 consecutive months between 15th March and 15th August; or

(ii) Where the particular environmental interest of a site would not be met by the approach in paragraph (i) above, a livestock management and grazing regime should be set out in a grazing plan to be agreed with the Scottish Ministers;

b. After 15th August, the grass must be grazed down or topped;

c. The site must not be used for supplementary feeding of stock; and

d. Farmyard manure or lime may be applied to the site only with the prior written agreement of the Scottish Ministers.

a. In year one, a detailed BEP management plan must be prepared that incorporates a map drawn to a scale of 1:10000 showing the extent of the invasion, the areas of bracken to be cleared over the life-time of the scheme plan, an estimate of the percentage cover and frond density of the bracken within each area at full frond stage (mid/late June on the west coast to early August in the eastern Borders) and the location of any sensitive species and habitats with appropriate buffer zones to ensure their conservation. Where cutting is to be the means of control no buffer zones are required but the map must show any areas with sensitive species and habitats and where birds are known to nest on the ground;

b. As soon as the detailed BEP management plan has been prepared, the applicant or contractor must complete and submit the standard multi-agency application form (with a copy of the BEP management plan scale map showing the area(s) to be treated) to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Local Authority environmental services department. The consultees must then be allowed a minimum of 15 working days to consider and respond to the application for consent;

c. The applicant must then submit the letters of consent and the final version of the BEP management plan to the Scottish Ministers as part of their claim for the first year's BEP management payment;

d. In year two (or exceptionally in year one if all the requirements detailed in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above have been met), the applicant or contractor must carry out primary treatment involving the treatment of dense bracken with an approved herbicide using an appropriate method or by cutting twice during the growing season. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the required prior notice is given to all appropriate consultees in advance of any aerial spraying and that the contractor is provided with a copy of the map to ensure that the treatment is carried out in accordance with the BEP management plan; and

e. Follow-up action may be necessary involving repeated annual treatment to clear any bracken re-growth. Where chemical control is used, this normally requires a spot-treatment approach. Where cutting is the means of control, the programme of twice yearly treatments must continue for the duration of the BEP management plan.

(i) Livestock must be excluded from the site for 4 consecutive months between 1st April and 31st August; or

(ii) Livestock must be excluded from 1st April to 30th June and grazing in the period from 1st July to 30th September must not exceed 0.3 livestock units per hectare; or

(iii) Where the particular environmental interest of the site would not be met by the approach in either paragraph (i) or (ii) above, a livestock management and grazing regime must be set out in a grazing plan to be agreed with the Scottish Ministers;

b. The environmental audit must include a statement outlining the method of control of rank vegetation growth;

c. Grazing or mowing must be carried out in accordance with a plan agreed with the Scottish Ministers; and

d. No supplementary feeding may occur on the site.

a. The blocking of existing ditches at intervals so as to raise or maintain the water table at or just below the surface of the vegetation (to prevent flooding of sites);

b. The clearing of scrub and prevention of re colonisation;

c. An agreement not to graze with cattle at any time;

d. An agreement to exclude other livestock from 1st November to 28th February;

e. An agreement not to stock at over 0.05 livestock units per hectare except with the prior written agreement of the Scottish Ministers;

f. An agreement not to undertake any supplementary feeding on the site;

g. An agreement that no peat cutting will be carried out without the prior written agreement of the Scottish Ministers; and

h. An agreement that no muirburn will be carried out on the site.

a. in the case of a site bordering still water, has a minimum width of 12 metres and a maximum width of 24 metres;

b. in the case of a site bordering a watercourse with a bed width of less than 1.2 metres, has a minimum continuous width of 5 times the bed width of the watercourse, a minimum overall width of 6 metres and a maximum width of 12 metres; and

c. in the case of a site bordering a watercourse with a bed width equal to or greater than 1.2 metres, has a minimum width of 6 metres and a maximum width of 12 metres on any one side.

a. Livestock must normally be excluded. Exceptionally livestock grazing at no more than 0.6 livestock units per hectare may be permitted in September and October with the prior written agreement of the Scottish Ministers;

b. Where trees exist or are to be planted within a water margin, care must be taken to ensure that there will be no excessive shading of the water;

c. The site must be maintained by the control of statutory weeds, giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed and, as the case may be, by clearing the watercourse of any obstacle;

d. Fertiliser including slurry or farmyard manure must not be applied to the site;

e. Pesticides may be applied with the prior written agreement of the Scottish Ministers;

f. Mowing of the site may be permitted with the prior written agreement of the Scottish Ministers and where necessary to control rank vegetation of low environmental value; and

g. No supplementary feeding may occur on the site.

a. part or parts of the flood plain are included in the agri-environment undertaking as the site of another management activity; and

b. the flooding of the site would not adversely affect other agricultural land.

a. In year one, a detailed BEP management plan must be prepared that incorporates a map drawn to a scale of 1:10000 showing the extent of the invasion, the areas of bracken to be cleared over the life-time of the scheme plan, an estimate of the percentage cover and frond density of the bracken within each area at full frond stage (mid/late June on the west coast to early August in the eastern Borders) and the location of any sensitive species and habitats with appropriate buffer zones to ensure their conservation. Where cutting is to be the means of control no buffer zones are required but the map must show any areas with sensitive species and habitats and where birds are known to nest on the ground;

b. As soon as the detailed BEP management plan has been prepared the applicant or contractor must complete and submit the standard multi-agency application form (with a copy of the BEP management plan scale map showing the area(s) to be treated) to the Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Local Authority environmental services department. The consultees must then be allowed a minimum of 15 working days to consider and respond to the application for consent;

c. The applicant must then submit the letters of consent and the final version of the BEP management plan to the Scottish Ministers as part of their claim for the first year's BEP management payment;

d. In year two (or exceptionally in year one if all the requirements detailed in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above have been met), the applicant or contractor must carry out primary treatment involving the treatment of dense bracken with an approved herbicide using an appropriate method or by cutting twice during the growing season. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the required prior notice is given to all appropriate consultees in advance of any aerial spraying and that the contractor is provided with a copy of the map to ensure that the treatment is carried out in accordance with the BEP management plan; and

e. Follow-up action may be necessary involving repeated annual treatment to clear any bracken re-growth. Where chemical control is used this normally requires a spot-treatment approach. Where cutting is the means of control, the programme of twice yearly treatments must continue for the duration of the BEP management plan.

(i) Ploughing, cultivation and the spreading of fertiliser may only take place between 28th February and 15th May (or such other date as may be specified under the Arable Area Payments Regulations 1996[13]). Exceptionally, for root crops, cultivation may be carried out after 15th May. Any nests located must be marked and avoided; or

(ii) If fodder rape or a similar crop is grown, cultivation may take place later in the year to establish the crop. Following cropping the area must not be ploughed or cultivated before 31st May in the following year;

b. Pesticides may be applied only with the prior written agreement of the Scottish Ministers. The maximum allowance of compound fertiliser is 250 kilogrammes per hectare per annum; and

c. Premium Payment

The management regime outlined at paragraph (a) or (b) above must be applied on the same site for a period of at least three years. In the final year of this arable rotation the cereal crop must be undersown with grass. The undersown crop will be subject to the usual management which must be maintained throughout the following season. If rolling of the grass crop is necessary, this must be carried out before 15th March. The undersown crop may be grazed or cut for hay or silage.

a. set out clear environmental objectives;

b. explain the management to be undertaken to achieve these objectives by addressing all areas of activity on the unit (i.e. grazing management, winter feed production, cropping, stock management, management of special habitats/features etc., including a Biodiversity Action Plan habitats and species and pollution control); and

c. To qualify for the Premium Payment the application must be one of at least four current applications to adopt this option from the same crofting community.

(a) a stock fence;

(b) gate and posts;

(c) a single stile; or

(d) a double stile.

(e). Conversion of a stock fence to a deer fence.

(f). Erection of a scare or temporary fence or rabbit proof netting.

(g). Erection of a deer fence.

(h). Erection of a deer fence marked to reduce bird collision.

(i). Dismantling of a deer fence to remove a cause of bird death and injury by collision.

(j). Erection of a post and rail fence as a tree guard or a water gate.

(k). Erection of suitable fencing to trap blowing sand and in fill previously eroded dune areas.

a. If the croft supports a herd of cattle of traditional or native breed(s) for the duration of participation in the scheme, £5 per hectare (in-bye); or

b. If a herd of cattle of traditional or native breed(s) is introduced to the croft by the end of the first plan year and numbers of any sheep on the croft reduced to ensure no increase in overall stocking density, £290 per hectare (in-bye).

(e). Conversion of a stock fence to a deer fence.

(f). Erection of a scare or temporary force or rabbit proof netting.

(g). Erection of a deer fence.

(h). Erection of a deer fence marked to reduce bird collision.

(i). Dismantling of a deer fence.

(j). Erection of a post and rail fence as a tree for guard tree or as a water gate.

(k). Erection of a suitable fence to trap blowing sand and in-fill previously eroded dune areas.

a. Tree guard and stake.

a. Water trough.