NATURALCARE - Scottish Natural Heritage

NATURALCARE
Lunan Lochs Project
Natural Care Scheme
Dunkeld – Blairgowrie Lochs
SSSI & cSAC
The Lunan Lochs – Special Interest
The five lochs of Craiglush, Lowes, Butterstone, Clunie and Marlee in north east Perthshire are collectively
known as the Lunan Lochs. The lochs are home to the following habitats and species of national and
European importance: shallow clearwater lochs, quaking bog (swamp vegetation forming a floating mat
known as Schwingmoor), otter and slender naiad (an aquatic plant found in unpolluted waters).
The lochs are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because they are important for these species and
habitats on a Scotland wide basis. Together the lochs have been identified as being of European
importance. They form one of 239 sites in Scotland that have been put forward as a candidate Special
Area of Conservation (cSAC).
Diffuse Pollution Threat
The species and habitats of the lochs are under threat from nutrient enrichment in the form of phosphate,
for example from soil erosion, animal and human waste (such as septic tanks, washing detergents). The
nutrient enrichment means that there are more algal blooms; sunlight cannot filter through the water and the
alkalinity of the water changes.
In 2003, SNH carried out farm pollution audits on farms within the catchment to find out which farming
activities caused most nutrient enrichment of the Lunan Lochs. The results of the audits identified a varied
range of opportunities to reduce soil erosion and nutrient enrichment through changes to stock
management, fertiliser application and cropping patterns.
The Scheme
The Lunan Lochs Natural Care Scheme aims to restore the water quality of the lochs by reducing phosphate
pollution from farming in the surrounding catchment. This will help to reestablish the diversity of flora and
fauna found in this clear water loch system. The Natural Care scheme will work in partnership with local
land managers to promote ‘best management practices’ and provide money and advice for good
management.
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Eligible Area of the Scheme
The Natural Care Scheme area includes all those parts of farms and estates within the catchment area of
the Dunkeld – Blairgowrie Lochs cSAC, as shown in the map below.
LUNAN LOCHS CATCHMENT MAP
Who can enter the Scheme?
Anyone who has a legal right to manage land within the Natural Care Scheme area and expects to have
that right for at least five years can apply.
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Process of Registration and Application
You can apply to the Lunan Lochs Natural Care Scheme from 1 April 2004 until 31 March 2006 by
completing a registration form and returning it to SNH.
When we receive your completed registration form, we will contact the FWAG advisor (currently Richard
Lockett), who will arrange to visit you.
The FWAG advisor will discuss with you which of the best management practices identified in your farm
diffuse pollution audit will be most effective in reducing nutrient enrichment and appropriate for SNH
funding. These will be incorporated by FWAG into a Management Plan which will set out the agreed
best management practices and the fields or areas to which they apply. Subject to you agreeing with
this Plan, FWAG will submit it, together with their assessment of your proposals, to SNH. At that stage,
SNH will incorporate the Plan into a Management Agreement. This will contain the undertakings you
agree to in return for entry to the Natural Care Scheme.
There will be no formal commitment to the Scheme until the Agreement is signed. Each Agreement will
run for five years.
Rural Stewardship Scheme
Some of the best management practices identified in your farm diffuse pollution audit will be eligible for
funding under RSS. We encourage you to apply for the best management practices for which funding is
available.
Basis of Scheme
Payments will be available for the following:
Level One comprises two elements to help cover the extra time you need to plan and carry out certain
practices. These are detailed under ‘Payment Rates’. We will make a fixed payment for this aspect,
together with a further payment based on the area of the farm entered into the Scheme (excluding hill
land).
Level Two comprises payments for the best management practices on a specific field or area, as set
out in the Management Plan for each farm. From the farm audits, SNH has identified the high and
medium priorities which, if carried out, will result in the most significant reductions in phosphate inputs to
the lochs. FWAG will advise you on these priorities. Applicants will be expected to enter the identified
high priority measures and the majority of medium priorities. Further details of the best management
practices are found under ‘Payment Rates’.
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Payment Rates
Level One – Entry Payments
We will make a payment to help cover the extra time you need to plan and carry out certain practices.
The relevant practices are;
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following farm waste management plans
following the findings of farm phosphate budgets
following recommended ploughing/cultivation times as per each farm’s diffuse pollution audit
Entry farm payment one off payment per farm £200
Entry area payment one off payment per ha £2
We will pay each farm or estate a one-off payment on entering the scheme. The payment is the same
whatever the size of farm.
We will also pay each farm or estate a one-off payment per hectare of land within the catchment but
excluding hill land on entering the scheme. This payment recognises that each farm or estate is of different
size and will have different levels of cost.
Level Two – Best Management Practice Payments
We will pay you for following the best management practices in the specified fields or areas as set out in
your Management Plan. Not all of the following will apply to each farm and the FWAG advisor will advise
which apply to your farm:
Soil & Phosphate Analysis
Soil analysis one-off payment £75
Phosphate balance analysis one off payment at cost, £ per farm
Soil analysis is important on each farm to measure the requirements for fertiliser application. The payment
would be in return for analysis of a few specified fields. A generalised phosphate analysis has been
carried out for your farm as part of the diffuse pollution audit. In some cases a more detailed phosphate
balance of inputs of nutrients (fertiliser and manures) and off-takes will also be required to assess the
optimum fertiliser and stock feed requirements. This will help reduce excess applications of fertiliser and
reduce wastage of resources caused by feeding stock surplus supplements.
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Changes in stock management
Reduce impact of outwintering per ha of restricted use per annum individual rate
stock
Out wintering cattle can cause erosion by trampling and poaching of ground, exposing bare soil. Stock
should be wintered in fields away from water and preferably well drained. Payment will be made based
on stock management and crop rotation history.
Changes in cultivation or land use
The appropriate prescription will depend on the current land use and proposals within your farm diffuse
pollution audit. Further details of each prescription are found in the text beneath the table:
Grass buffer strips per ha per annum £400
Next to water courses and in
steep fields predominately in per ha per annum changed £270
arable cropping – change to crop rotation
growing spring cereals or grass
Steep land predominantly in
grass with occasional arable per ha per annum changed £80
cropping - change to continuous crop rotation
grass
No fertiliser or manure
application on specified grass per ha per annum £60
areas
Grass buffer strips left uncultivated between cereal crops and water courses help to absorb nutrients and
sediment before they reach the water course. The appropriate width will be specified in your Management
Plan. The strips may be grazed.
Next to water courses and in steep fields predominantly in arable cropping. Cropping can lead to soil
and fertilizers being washed into the water course causing pollution. Water courses may also flood
causing erosion. You will be required to avoid erosion prone crops and grow only spring cereals or grass.
Once harvested, cereals should be left in stubble until after 28 February each year. Rotation is likely to
change from potatoes, winter or spring cereals to predominantly spring cereals and livestock.
Steep land predominately in grass with occasional arable cropping is more susceptible to erosion and runoff.
In certain areas, you will be required to avoid crops that are prone to erosion and instead grow only
grass. This will help to protect and retain soil. The rotation is likely to change from grass with winter or
spring cereals, to one of purely grass rotation.
No fertiliser or manure application on specified grass areas, as during wet weather, land is more
susceptible to erosion and run-off. Any manure deposited by stock or fertiliser applied to the ground may
be washed into water courses, causing pollution. You will be required to avoid the application of fertiliser
or manure on specified grass areas. As a consequence of not applying fertiliser or manure, stocking levels
will be lowered, and you will not provide supplementary feeding for stock.
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Field Capital Works
Fencing off water courses and wet areas one-off payment £3.50 per mtr
Water troughs one-off payment £200/trough and
£2/mtr for pipe & track
Piped drainage problems one-off payment individual rate
Fencing off water courses prevents stock trampling banks, which causes erosion and pollution of water
courses. As a consequence, you may need to provide an alternative water source for stock. Some wet
areas may also require to be fenced off.
Blow outs from broken drains can cause erosion and pollution. We will make a contribution towards the
repair of broken drains if appropriate.
Steading Capital Works
Steading run off problems one off payment individual rate
Other steading problems one off payment individual rate
Slurry storage and handling problems one off payment individual rate
There are a variety of opportunities to avoid sources of potential pollution in steadings and outbuildings,
including better clean and dirty water treatment, and improved storage for farm effluents and fertilisers.
We will agree with you an appropriate contribution towards the necessary work, up to a maximum of 75%
of the total cost. Economic benefits to the farm will be taken into account.
Flood risk areas
Flood risk areas are prone to erosion during floods. Arable cropping exposes bare soil that is easily
eroded. Premium rates will be paid to those land managers with flood risk fields identified in the farm
pollution audits so as to maintain these fields in grass to protect and retain the soil. FWAG will advise if
you are eligible for premium rates.
Annual Record of Management
You will need to record the management that you carry out each year under the Scheme. Details of what
you will need to record will be set out in your Management Plan. Your Annual Record of Management
should be completed and sent to SNH within one month of the anniversary of your Management
Agreement.
Payment Dates
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We will make Level One payments when you have entered the Scheme. You formally enter the
Scheme by signing your Management Agreement.
Level Two payments (with the exception of Capital Works) will be made each year within one month
of receipt of your Annual Record of Management.
We will pay you for capital work on satisfactory completion of the work and on receipt of a claim form.
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General Conditions of the Scheme
On entering the Scheme, you agree to abide by good farming practices as set out in the PEPFAA code
(Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity).
You will have full responsibility for managing the land as set out in your Management Agreement.
However, please tell us as soon as you can about any problems caused by the management under the
Scheme or anything that would damage the natural heritage of the land or catchment.
You will need to allow us or our contractors access to all land to monitor the Scheme. We will give you
advance warning, so visits can be arranged for a convenient time.
We may review payment rates to make sure that the rates reflect the costs of participating in the scheme.
We will give you advance notice of any review. The payment rates provided in this booklet will however
remain the same for at least two years.
Following the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), SNH is required to make sure that
producers do not receive subsidy under both the Single Farm Payment and SNH Management Agreements
from January 2005. The annual payment rates do not therefore include any element of subsidy.
Further Information
General information on Natural Care can be found in the leaflet ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ and on the
SNH website http://www.snh.org.uk
For enquiries about the Lunan Lochs Natural Care scheme, please contact Nicki McIntyre in the SNH
Tayside & Clackmannanshire Area office at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW. Telephone 01738
444177
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NATURALCARE
© Scottish Natural Heritage 2004
Photography:
© SNH p1&8 (aerial view of Lunan Lochs), p3 (cows in water course), p5 (water lily), p7 (slender
naiad); © Laurie Campbell p2 (osprey), p4 (otter), p6 (little grebe)
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