Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands

Transcription

1 Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Management Scheme Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands potential Special Protection Area ((p)spa) is an extensive area of moorland extending south from near Darvel in South Ayrshire to near Kirkconnel in Dumfries and Galloway. It is of outstanding interest for its variety of upland habitats and breeding birds. There are large tracts of blanket bog, wet and dry heaths and upland grasslands. It is this diversity of habitats that supports a rich variety of moorland breeding birds. Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands is internationally important, and has been made a (p)spa, for its breeding short eared owl, hen harrier, merlin, peregrine and golden plover and its wintering population of hen harriers. The (p)spa is 26,330 hectares in size and takes in the Muirkirk Uplands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and North Lowther Uplands SSSI together with Blood Moss and Slot Burn SSSI, Garpel Water SSSI and Ree Burn and Glenbuck Loch SSSI. The Muirkirk Uplands and North Lowther Uplands SSSIs are both nationally important for blanket bog. North Lowther is also nationally important for dry heath and acid grassland. The scheme area supports an outstanding assemblage of upland breeding birds including, in addition to those birds already mentioned, curlew, dunlin, raven, red grouse, redshank, snipe, teal, wheatear and whinchat. It is a stronghold of black grouse. The Scheme The main aim of the Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands Moorland Management Scheme is to maintain and promote improvement of habitats to support the bird interests. It aims to do this by promoting better integration of different uses of the moorland and by providing money and advice to support good management. SNH will also provide information and identify training opportunities for moorland managers and, as appropriate, promote novel or new ways in which to achieve best practice management. You can get further information from the Muirkirk & North Lowther Scheme Officer 19 Wellington Square Ayr KA7 1EZ t: f: For general information about SNH's Natural Care schemes you can our helpline at natural.care@snh.gov.uk or visit our website at You may also find the leaflet "Frequently asked Questions" answers your queries. 1

2 A70 Newmilns Galston B7037 Mauchline A76 Auchinleck Darvel B743 A71 Cumnock A70 B743 Muirkirk B7078 M74 Douglas Glenbuck Glespin B740 A70 The Scheme Area The Scheme area includes all those parts of farms and estates within Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands SSSIs and (p)spa. Where there is clear benefit to the special bird interests, areas of suitable moorland habitat on these farms and estates outwith, but adjacent to, the site may also be included. For other management works, you will need to send us a completed claim form with an invoice or other form of evidence of it having been completed. A claim form will be sent to you each year in April. For one-off works you will need to get three written estimates unless otherwise agreed with SNH. Available management prescriptions and payment rates SNH will pay for specific management works to be carried out. The available prescriptions are listed below with payment rates. Scheme Area New Cumnock A76 Kirkconnel 0 5 km Eligibility If you have a legal right to manage land within the Scheme area and expect to have that right for at least five years, you can apply. Management prescriptions are arranged in four levels. You must participate in Level One, and Level Two if appropriate. Level Moorland Management Prescription Payment rate Limit (if applicable) Applications and Agreements The Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands Management Scheme is open for applications from 17 February 2003 until 16 February You must first get an application form from SNH. The Scheme is being managed from the SNH Strathclyde & Ayrshire Area office in Ayr. Everyone with a legal right to manage the moorland included in the application must complete and sign the form before sending it to the Scheme Officer, at Ayr. Once SNH confirms in writing that you are eligible to enter the Scheme, you can arrange for a Moorland Management Plan to be prepared. Following completion of the Plan, discussion and agreement between all parties, an Agreement will have to be signed by the relevant parties and the agreed work can then commence. Agreements will be for five years from the date that relevant parties agree to start implementing the Moorland Management Plan. This must be within one year of completing the Plan. SNH will monitor a sample of works carried out under agreement each year. Annual Record of Management You will need to record the management that you carry out each year under the Scheme and send this to SNH. Depending on which prescriptions you choose, your record of management may be in the form of a map showing the area where work was carried out and/or a brief written summary of the work done. Details of what you need to record are given below or will be agreed with you and included in the Management Agreement. Payments SNH will make payments as follows: For writing a Management Plan: after completion and approval by SNH. For annual management works: each year in June or September for the year before, For other management works: after completion or each year in June or September for the year before,. For regular and ongoing management, you need to give us your Annual Record of Management by the end of May or August each year to ensure payment in June or September respectively. 1* Write a Moorland Management Plan for the farm 1.50 per ha. Min 125; or estate (whichever is smaller) (One off payment) Max 1,250 per plan 2* Muirburn (or cutting) 110 per ha burnt or cut 25,000 over 5 years Bracken control 120 per ha initial treatment 100 ha or 24,500 plus 25 per ha for 5 years over 5 years Stock reduction - disposal of sheep 34 per ewe per year Stock reduction per ewe or away wintering of sheep for 22 weeks ewe equivalent 3 Crow control 40 per trap 1 trap per 500 ha Unharvested crops 250 per ha per year 1 ha per farm or estate Unharvested crops - cut & stooked 400 per ha per year 1 ha per farm or estate Substitute feeding of hen harriers per nest per year (under review) Wildlife recording 200 per year 1 per farm or estate 4 Heather restoration Grass control Fencing Wetland creation Scrub protection & development Creation of nest sites * Indicates prescriptions which must be selected if appropriate. 2 3

3 Available management prescriptions in more detail Level 1 The available management prescriptions are described below, with notes on their applicability and conditions. Level One comprises the production of a Moorland Management Plan for the farm or estate (whichever is the smaller). Level Two comprises moorland management activities e.g. muirburn, grazing management, bracken control, for which SNH will make an area-based annual payment. Levels Three and Four comprise management activities for which SNH will make fixed-rate and individually negotiated payments, respectively. Writing a Moorland Management Plan (MMP) All Natural Care Moorland Management Scheme applicants need to write a MMP and agree it with SNH. Where the land is managed by more than one person, for example by a landowner, an agricultural tenant and/or a sporting tenant, the Plan must be written jointly. Joint applicants must agree and record in the Plan which of them has the lead responsibility, and will receive payment from SNH, for each prescription. MMPs are key to deciding how management for the natural heritage, farming and sporting interests of a moorland are to fit together. Your Plan needs to include enough detail about the past, present and proposed management of your moorland for all involved to see and understand what is being done and why. The land, its interests and its managers Your MMP needs to: describe the land - accompanied by a map; state who is responsible for which management; describe the current and past agricultural, conservation and sporting management of the land and any designated sites such as Scheduled Ancient Monuments, SSSIs, Natura 2000 sites (SPAs or Special Areas of Conservation), Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and Wildlife Sites; describe the condition of moorland habitats - based on a habitat condition assessment; state the farming, sporting, natural heritage and any other objectives for the land; consider how these objectives can be achieved, how any problems will be overcome and state the targets for the five years of the Management Agreement; list the management actions needed and the relevant scheme prescriptions and monitoring; include an action timetable; and show specific areas of interest or activity on one or more maps. Where the following prescriptions are selected, the MMP needs to include further detail. Muirburn or cutting Include a map of: areas suitable for muirburn or cutting (mostly dry heaths); areas to be left unburned or un-cut (such as bird nesting areas, wind-clipped heaths, close to bracken, steep or rocky ground, blanket bogs and other areas with fire-sensitive interests); and areas where muirburn is difficult (such as close to forest edges or public roads). Consider the appropriate frequency of muirburn or cutting - the rotation length; the percentage of suitable moorland you aim to burn or cut in each year; and the availability of labour or equipment to carry out the programme. 4 5

4 Level 2 Grazing management Describe current and past grazing regimes. Consider the grazing impacts of sheep, cattle and deer on the moorland habitats. Identify a grazing regime that will sustain the moorland habitats and, where appropriate, allow them to recover. Consider how this grazing regime will be achieved - for example by removal of stock for all or part of each year, changes to stock management practices or integration with deer management. Bracken control Map areas of bracken and show where it is spreading into moorland habitats. Identify areas for control and the methods to be used. Identify follow-up treatment in the action timetable. Conditions The Management Plan you agree with any joint applicants and SNH will form part of your formal management agreement contract with SNH. You will need to start to implement your Management Plan within one year of it being agreed by SNH. Over tenanted land, landlords and tenant(s) will produce a joint Plan. Payments Since you may require specialist assistance in the preparation of a MMP, SNH will reimburse the cost of the plan at the point of plan approval, subject to the specified rates and limits. SNH will make a single payment calculated on the basis of a rate per hectare up to a maximum value per farm or estate when your plan has been agreed with SNH and any joint applicants. Notes SNH can provide you with a management plan layout with guidance, information on habitats, birds and certain designated archaeological interests and make available aerial photographs (on loan only). Muirburn or cutting Fire is probably one of the most useful, and oldest, land management tools and has been used to manage heather moorlands for hundreds of years. It is a powerful tool, which needs to be used with skill and understanding if it is not to do more harm than good. If your land is within the scheme area and is of special interest for its open, dry heath or for the birds or other plants and animals that depend on this habitat, the muirburn (or cutting) prescription may be available to you. 1. You will need to describe the extent, location and method of muirburn or cutting in a MMP agreed with SNH and any others with responsibility for managing the land. This Plan will identify areas suitable for burning, the appropriate burning rotation length and the labour and methods to be used. 2. Muirburn and cutting will be carried out in accordance with "The Muirburn Code" (1). In particular: Up to 10% of the suitable heather area is to be burnt or cut in any one year and/or up to 50% over five years, unless otherwise justified in the MMP and agreed with SNH. Individual fires or cuts to be between 0.4 ha (approx 20m by 200m) and 1.0 ha (approx 30m by 330m) in size. Larger or smaller fires or cuts will be excluded from payment calculations unless justified in the MMP agreed with SNH. Burning or cutting should not be carried out on areas of blanket bog, steep and/or rocky ground, areas of wind clipped heath, areas of older heather used by nesting raptors or of interest for other fire-sensitive interests. Muirburn and cutting must be kept at least 50m from existing areas of bracken. For safety purposes, fires must be manned by two or more people. SNH will make payments for muirburn, annually, on receipt of your Annual Record of Management. If you have primary responsibility for muirburn, you will need to show the previous season's individual burnt or cut areas on a map and give a copy of this to SNH with your Annual Record of Management. SNH will also inspect the quality and extent of muirburn on a number of areas each year. You may use the payments from SNH as best suits your management needs. For example you may supplement the wages of existing farm and estate workers, employ additional workers or invest it in mechanical aids. SNH will calculate payments due to you on the area of moorland burnt in accordance with "The Muirburn Code" (1). 6 7

5 Bracken Control Bracken can provide a valuable habitat for certain plants and animals and often plays an important role in valued landscapes. It can however spread rapidly and cause the loss of grassland and heathland habitats of natural heritage, as well as agricultural and sporting, value. If the spread of bracken on your land within an SNH Natural Care scheme area is threatening a habitat of special interest, or species of special interest supported by that habitat, the bracken control prescription may be available to you. 1. Bracken control should be carried out in accordance with "Bracken Control - A guide to best practice" (2). 2. In your MMP you will need to describe the current extent, location and condition of bracken on your land and the threat this is posing to its special natural heritage interests. You will identify areas to be treated, how and when they are to be treated and how follow-up treatment will be carried out Your Plan will also identify areas to be avoided, and buffer areas, for example around sensitive non-target plants and along water courses. 3. You must include details of your bracken control to SNH with your Annual Record of Management. 4. Treatment can be by machine or manual swiping or crushing, backpack spraying or aerial spraying as appropriate and agreed with SNH. Aerial spraying will only be carried out in areas identified in your MMP. Aerial spraying will be carried out in suitable wind and weather conditions. All bracken spraying will use herbicides approved for the purpose. You are still required to obtain the necessary permissions from, or give notice to, other relevant authorities such as SEPA and the Water Authority. SNH will pay a rate per hectare, for initial treatment, and a rate per hectare per annum, for additional management and required follow-up work, for implementing bracken control over areas agreed in your MMP. Payment for work completed in the year past will be made annually, by agreement, in June or September. You must record areas treated and the method used in your Annual Record of Management. Grazing management Grazing pressure and timing requires careful management on moorlands. Sheep are responsible for heavy heather losses during the winter months, particularly when they are being fed on the hill. Excessive grazing of heather regenerating after burning can lead to the loss of heather to bracken or grass. If your moorland habitat condition assessment and the MMP indicate that the current stocking of sheep or cattle, in terms of their numbers or the timing of grazing, is having an adverse impact on the habitats of moorland birds, or needs to be adjusted to fit with planned changes to other aspects of moorland management, you can apply for the stock disposal and/ or away wintering prescriptions. 1. Your MMP will recommend an appropriate grazing regime and include the following details: Type and number of stock. Timing of grazing. Stock feeding arrangements. 2. Where your MMP recommends away-wintering of stock: The agreed number of ewes or hoggs must be removed from the site for at least 22 weeks during the winter. SNH will pay for every ewe or ewe equivalent, or where over-wintering off the hill is already a part of livestock management, every additional ewe or ewe equivalent that is wintered elsewhere. 3. Where your MMP recommends stock disposal for the duration of the agreement: You must reduce the total stock numbers in the IACS business by at least the agreed number and must not increase them for the term of the agreement. SNH will only pay for management works that are within the "Standard of Good Farming Practice". SNH will only pay for a reduction of stock beyond any reduction required to rectify an overgrazing problem identified under the Livestock Subsidy Schemes. Liaison with SEERAD may therefore be required in cases of heavy grazing. SEERAD will continue to apply the normal quota usage rules. Neither SEERAD nor SNH can freeze your quota for the duration of this scheme in the way that SEERAD can for agri-environment schemes such as RSS. SNH will make payments annually, for the year past, on receipt of your Annual Record of Management. You must include in your Annual Record of Management the appropriate details of numbers of sheep away-wintered and confirmation of the number of ewes sold, together with a summary of the grazing regime that has been carried out in the year past. SNH may also inspect the effect of grazing management on a number of areas each year. 8 9

6 Level 3 Other Standard Rate Items Control of crows The control of crows can benefit moorland ground nesting birds. Where crow numbers are controlled, the rates of predation on eggs and young birds can be reduced and the rate of chick survival improved. If crow predation is adversely affecting the special bird interest on your land within the scheme area, the crow control prescription may be available to you. Crow control will be carried out in accordance with "Trapping Pest Birds - A Code of Practice" (3). In particular, traps will be of a legal design and operated in a legal manner; you will provide all decoy birds with shelter, food and water at all times; you must have the labour resource to inspect traps every day; captured crows will be killed quickly and humanely; and all non-target species will be released immediately and unharmed. Substitute feeding of hen harriers Recent trials have clearly demonstrated that diversionary feeding during the nesting season can significantly reduce the number of red grouse chicks brought to hen harrier nests. Together with appropriate habitat management diversionary feeding could aid the recovery of red grouse numbers. If your MMP identifies a conflict between grouse moor management and hen harrier predation of grouse chicks you can apply for this prescription. You must carry out feeding strictly in accordance with the practice described in "Substitute Feeding of Hen Harriers on Grouse Moors" (Moorland Working Group 1999). You must record, in your Annual Record of Management, details of the nests being fed, the periods in which you put out food and what food you put out each day. SNH will make a contribution to the costs of feeding each nest. SNH will make a one-off contribution only towards the purchase or manufacture of each trap to be used on or near the Scheme area. You will need to provide SNH with details of the number of days traps were operated and the number of crows killed each year in your Annual Report of Management. Unharvested Crops Recent research suggests that providing enhanced winter feeding in the form of unharvested cereal crops can benefit a wide range of birds. Wildlife Recording Best practice moorland management requires good, reliable information on the distribution and number of key bird species and other wildlife. Record sightings of those species for which the site is notified, with details of; species, date, location (grid ref. if possible), habitat and (as appropriate/ discernible), sex and activity. Complete and submit wildlife recording forms to SNH each year with your Annual Record of Management. Participants will spring sow a cereal based mixture including at least one legume species (other crops, e.g. linseed & brassicas, may be included in the mixture) and not plough down until after 15 March the following year. Eligible plots will be less than 1 ha of improved grassland within, or close to the boundary of the scheme area. SNH will make an annual payment of a rate per hectare. Where a cereal crop is also cut and stooked, SNH will make an additional payment per hectare. SNH will make payment on receipt of forms. SNH will make only one annual payment for Wildlife Monitoring for each participating farm or estate. Notes SNH will provide monthly recording forms

7 Level 4 Negotiated Rate Items These prescriptions are only available where your MMP explains how they will significantly benefit the moorland habitats and their birds. We will discuss your specific circumstances with you to work out what payment would be appropriate. Requirements and conditions for Level 4 prescriptions will be agreed and included in your Management Agreement. Heather Restoration There was a significant loss of heather moorland during the 20th Century to forestry, bracken and conversion to grassland. This prescription may be available to support action agreed with SNH to restore heather through, for example, heather seed harvesting, scarifying and reseeding. Restoration of bracken dominated areas is covered by the bracken control prescription. Creation of nest areas Areas of taller heather are important as nesting areas. If your MMP identifies a shortage of suitable heather for nesting hen harriers, short-eared owls or other species you can apply for this prescription. This prescription is for creating and not for protecting existing suitable habitat areas. All nest areas must be created in suitable locations agreed with SNH. Nest areas will normally be about 2 ha in size and located where they are unlikely to impede muirburn or other moorland management activity. Domestic stock must be excluded from areas requiring heather regeneration. SNH will make a one-off payment for fencing and other capital costs and annual payments, as appropriate, for stock removal. Grass Control Recent trials have shown that chemical suppression of purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea can encourage heather recovery. Treating suitable areas with a weak herbicide rinse checks the growth of grass and permits the recovery of heather. You may apply for this prescription where conditions are favourable. Fencing You may apply for this prescription where your MMP identifies potential benefits from more controlled grazing by sheep or cattle, that can only be achieved by fencing. Wetland creation Wetland areas provide valuable feeding areas for young grouse and waders. Where your MMP identifies a potential benefit from additional or improved wetland areas, you can apply for this prescription. This prescription includes the restoration of wet heaths and bogs by blocking moor grips. Scrub protection and development Areas of short scrub increase the variety of moorland habitats for birds and other moorland wildlife. In particular, scrub can provide cover for small birds and nesting and foraging habitat for hen harrier, short-eared owl and merlin. This prescription is available for the protection or development of up to 15 areas of approximately 2 hectares each

8 References Notes (1) "The Muirburn Code" is available on The Scottish Executive's website at (2) "Bracken Control - A guide to best practice" (Southern Uplands Partnership, 2001) Available on-line at (3) "Trapping Pest Birds - A Code of Practice" ( BASC). Copies are available from your SNH Scheme Officer or direct from BASC, Croft Cottage, Trochry, Dunkeld, PH8 0ED, Tel:

9 Scottish Natural Heritage 2003 ISSN ?? Photography: Lorne Gill/SNH P1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 Patricia & Angus Macdonald/SNH P2, 3, John MacPherson/SNH P6, 7.