Habitat Scheme
- Description
- Objectives
- How the Scheme Operates
- Payment Rates
- Uptake
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Review
- Planned Future Developments
- Further Information
Description
This was a pilot scheme, launched in May 1994, aimed at creating or enhancing certain valuable habitats by taking land out of agricultural production, or introducing extensive grazing, and managing it for the benefit of wildlife. The scheme targeted three types of habitat:
- water fringes in six designated areas;
- farmland previously in the Five Year Set-Aside Scheme;
(this option closed to new applicants on 15 July 1997) - coastal saltmarsh.
Objectives
The aim of the water fringe option was to create buffer strips or extensively grazed fields alongside the designated watercourses and lakes in order to conserve and enhance their wildlife value and that of the adjacent land. The former set-aside option sought to protect and enhance valuable wildlife habitats on or adjoining land leaving the Five Year Set-Aside Scheme. The aim of the saltmarsh option was to create and extend areas of saltmarsh on suitable land, consistent with the provision of effective and sustainable coastal defence.
How the Scheme Operates
The six areas designated under the water fringe option included Slapton Ley in Devon; the upper Avon, Wylye and Nadder and tributaries in Wiltshire; the river Beult in Kent; the Shropshire Meres; tributaries of the river Ribble in Lancashire and the Yorkshire Derwent and Rye system. Farmers in these areas could enter into agreements to take strips of waterside land out of production for 20 years and manage them for the benefit of wildlife, or enter into 10 year agreements to manage waterside fields or part fields by extensive grazing. In addition, there was a supplementary payment available to farmers to encourage high water levels on land entered into agreement. On land taken out of agricultural production, a management plan was agreed for each site, including a cutting regime designed to benefit wildlife.
The former set-aside land option, which closed to new applicants in July 1997, was open to land which has developed into, or adjoins, a valuable wildlife habitat under Defra's now closed voluntary Five Year Set-Aside Scheme.
Farmers agreed to refrain from agricultural production and to manage their land to conserve and develop its wildlife interest over a 20 year period. An individual management plan was agreed for each site which would normally include a cutting regime. Under both the water fringe and former set-aside land options, farmers also agreed to comply with various management prescriptions. These typically included a prohibition on the use of fertilisers and pesticides and a requirement to retain and manage hedges, ponds and reedbeds. Participants also undertook not to damage or remove any traditional buildings, stone walls or features of historic interest.
Under the saltmarsh option, farmers entered into 20 year agreements to refrain from agricultural production on coastal land which has the potential for establishing saltmarsh vegetation. Saltmarsh creation requires the controlled inundation of land with sea water, which is normally only possible by re-aligning the sea defences inland. Prior to inundation, saltmarsh option sites were managed in accordance with a programme which would help to prevent subsequent erosion. Throughout the period of the agreement participants were also required to comply with various management rules, including a requirement to remove any large accumulations of tidal debris. Saltmarsh option applications were only accepted after full consultation with the relevant coastal defence authority.
Since July 1995, arable land withdrawn from production under any Habitat Scheme option could be counted towards farmers' set-aside requirements under the Arable Area Payments Scheme.
Payment Rates
| Scheme option | Payment Rate (£/ha) |
|
| Former Set-Aside Land | 290 | |
| Water Fringe | ||
| Option 1A: | withdrawal of permanent grassland from production | 240 |
| Option 1B: | withdrawal of arable land from production, where the land is not counted as set-aside | 485 |
| Option 1B: | withdrawal of arable land from production, where the land is counted as set-aside | 405 |
| Option 2A: | extensive grassland management on existing permanent grass | 125 |
| Option 2B: | extensive grassland management on currently arable land | 435 |
| Option 3: | raised water level supplement | 40 |
| Saltmarsh | ||
| Arable land, where the land is not counted as set-aside | 525 | |
| Arable land, where the land is counted as set-aside | 448 | |
| Permanent grassland | 250 | |
A grant of £1.20 per metre was available towards the cost of erecting stockproof fencing required under the water fringe option.
Uptake
| |
1994/95 | 1995/96 | 1996/97 | 1997/98 | 1998/99* | Total |
| Area (ha) | 3,700 | 1,400 | 1,648 | 126 | 241 | 7,115 |
| Number of agreements | 192 | 109 | 90 | 21 | 19 | 431 |
*Provisional figure - some agreements still to be signed
Monitoring, Evaluation and Review
An environmental monitoring strategy was in place for each of the three options to allow Defra to evaluate how far the scheme met its objectives. Baseline surveys commenced in 1995 and chosen sites were resurveyed in 1997/98, prior to a full evaluation of the scheme in 1998/99.
Monitoring reports for each element of the scheme were prepared by ADAS in 1998.
The following reports have been prepared in Portable Document Format
(PDF). These documents are marked 
.
To read them you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available
free of charge.
Click here to download Acrobat Reader Software.
Planned Future Developments
The Habitat Scheme was incorporated into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme from 1 January 2000.
Further Information
If you would like to know more about the Habitat Scheme, contact your local Defra Regional Defra Office. Application packs are available which give full details of the scheme.
Copies of specimen application forms for the scheme are still available in the Direct Access Government area of our web site, although this scheme is no longer open to applications.
Page last modified:
19 May, 2005
Page published: 10 December, 2002