Broadback wrote:
I was told earlier today that there is yet another EEC law
regulating
when hedges can/cannot be cut. Anyone any information on this
please?
TIA
If you're thinking of what's at:
http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache...hl=en&ie=UTF-8
then, yes, it's true, and I reckon it falls neatly under the
provisions of your own rule
Hedge cutting/ coppicing or laying is not permitted between 1 March
and 31 August. Derogations for hedge cutting dates will be granted
where health and safety is an issue such asfor roadside and lane
hedges.(i)Dry stone walls, earth banksand hedges, and hedgerow
treescan be removed only with priorwritten agreement from therelevant
authority.Hedges are defined as hedgerows, hedge banks, rowsof trees
and hedgerow trees.(iii) Welsh Assembly advice is that where hedges
are cut, these should be on rotation, every 2-3years.
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GAEC MEASURES FOR EACH EC ISSUE AS LISTED IN ANNEX IV (Article 5 of
Council Reg 1782/2003)EC ISSUEEC STANDARDSGAECMEASUREGAEC MEASURE
REQUIREMENTSGAEC GUIDELINES/ADVICEMinimum levelof maintenanceEnsure
aminimum level ofmaintenance andavoid thedeterioration ofhabitats-
Protection ofpermanent pasture-Retention oflandscape features-Avoid
deteriorationof habitats7. Retention ofPermanentPasture, Semi-natural
Habitats,andArchaeologicalFeatures(i) Do not plough, undertake new
drainageworks, drain or re-seed or cultivatepermanent pasture except
where this ispart of the normal rotational managementof the land or
where it is environmentallybeneficial and complies with
theEnvironmental Impact Assessment(Uncultivated Land and
Semi-naturalAreas)(Wales) Regulations 2002.(ii) Retain, protect and
not wilfully damagelandscape features. eg uncultivated
land,semi-natural areas such aswoodland/scrub; wetlands; species
richgrasslands, moorland, ponds, shelterbelts,trees protected under
the TreePreservation Order, and archaeologicalfeatures. Do not quarry
rock outcrops,except for small scale on-farm use,without planning
permission. In-filling;reclamation; extraction of peat, sands
orgravels is not permitted without necessarypermissions. The EIA
(Uncultivated Land& Semi-natural Areas)(Wales) Regulations2002 will
be enforced. Heather/grassburning codes to be adhered to.Burning not
allowed between 1Novemberand 31 March in lowlands and 1October to15
April in uplands.(i) Permanent pasture is defined in (EC)No
1782/2003, Article 3 as landdeclared on the Area Aid Application
in2003, as permanent grass over 5 years.Land which has been ploughed
andreseeded within the same year is definedas permanent
pasture.Afforestation of permanent pasture thatis compatible with the
environment isexempt from the requirement to retainpermanent
pasture.(ii) Farmers must not undertake newdrainage works, ploughing,
clearing,levelling, re-seeding or cultivating onuncultivated land or
semi-natural areasunless approved under the EIARegulations.
Uncultivated land is landwith less than 25 - 30% ryegrass, and/or
white clover or other sown grassspecies.
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Hedge cutting/ coppicing or laying is not permitted between 1 March
and 31 August. Derogations for hedge cutting dates will be granted
where health and safety is an issue such asfor roadside and lane
hedges.(i)Dry stone walls, earth banksand hedges, and hedgerow
treescan be removed only with priorwritten agreement from therelevant
authority.Hedges are defined as hedgerows, hedge banks, rowsof trees
and hedgerow trees.(iii) Welsh Assembly advice is that where hedges
are cut, these should be on rotation, every 2-3years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Page 6
GAEC MEASURES FOR EACH EC ISSUE AS LISTED IN ANNEX IV (Article 5 of
Council Reg 1782/2003)EC ISSUEEC STANDARDSGAECMEASUREGAEC MEASURE
REQUIREMENTSGAEC GUIDELINES/ADVICEMinimum levelof maintenanceEnsure
aminimum level ofmaintenance andavoid thedeterioration ofhabitats-
Protection ofpermanent pasture-Retention oflandscape features-Avoid
deteriorationof habitats7. Retention ofPermanentPasture, Semi-natural
Habitats,andArchaeologicalFeatures(i) Do not plough, undertake new
drainageworks, drain or re-seed or cultivatepermanent pasture except
where this ispart of the normal rotational managementof the land or
where it is environmentallybeneficial and complies with
theEnvironmental Impact Assessment(Uncultivated Land and
Semi-naturalAreas)(Wales) Regulations 2002.(ii) Retain, protect and
not wilfully damagelandscape features. eg uncultivated
land,semi-natural areas such aswoodland/scrub; wetlands; species
richgrasslands, moorland, ponds, shelterbelts,trees protected under
the TreePreservation Order, and archaeologicalfeatures. Do not quarry
rock outcrops,except for small scale on-farm use,without planning
permission. In-filling;reclamation; extraction of peat, sands
orgravels is not permitted without necessarypermissions. The EIA
(Uncultivated Land& Semi-natural Areas)(Wales) Regulations2002 will
be enforced. Heather/grassburning codes to be adhered to.Burning not
allowed between 1Novemberand 31 March in lowlands and 1October to15
April in uplands.(i) Permanent pasture is defined in (EC)No
1782/2003, Article 3 as landdeclared on the Area Aid Application
in2003, as permanent grass over 5 years.Land which has been ploughed
andreseeded within the same year is definedas permanent
pasture.Afforestation of permanent pasture thatis compatible with the
environment isexempt from the requirement to retainpermanent
pasture.(ii) Farmers must not undertake newdrainage works, ploughing,
clearing,levelling, re-seeding or cultivating onuncultivated land or
semi-natural areasunless approved under the EIARegulations.
Uncultivated land is landwith less than 25 - 30% ryegrass, and/or
white clover or other sown grassspecies.
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Page 7
"Common sense, not common market."
Cutting or laying agricultural hedges between 1 March and 31 August
would generally be a pretty destructive thing to do. Local conditions
might suggest other dates, and on the whole I'd play safe with doing
it only from November to mid-February; but it's good farming
practice. Since the rule applies only to farmers in receipt of
subsidy, i.e., who have their hands in your pockets and mine, it
seems an entirely reasonable condition.
--
Mike.