North Somerset Levels and Moors and Severn Estuary Coast Wildlife Enhancement Scheme North Somerset Levels and Moors Sites of Special Scientific Interest include Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors SSSI, Puxton Moor SSSI and Biddle Street SSSI. working today for nature tomorrow Why are the North Somerset Levels and Moors important for nature conservation? The North Somerset Levels and Moors SSSIs are of English Nature outstanding national Why is the Severn importance for the variety of Estuary Coast ditches and rhynes and the important for nature assortment of species found conservation? in them. G The network of ditches support a wide variety of plant The Severn Estuary SSSI is of communities and large outstanding international numbers of beetles, snails, importance for its range of dragonflies and damselflies. Over 50 species of water beetle coastal habitats and the have been found, including the species found living on them. great silver water beetle, Britain’s largest beetle. G The intertidal mud flats, sand G The sedges, grasses and rushes flats and saltmarsh are visited on the edges of the ditches by internationally important provide cover for water voles numbers of overwintering and birds, such as snipe and waterfowl such as shelduck, warblers. dunlin and redshank and G Herons and kingfishers fish passage waterfowl such as along open waterways. whimbrel and wigeon. G Grazing animals poach the G The saltmarsh and sea walls ditch edges, providing open provide homes for some ground for seeds to grow, and nationally scarce invertebrates marshy areas for aquatic and plants. invertebrates. G Behind the sea wall, the coastal G Tussocky fields provide nesting grazing marsh provides areas for birds such as lapwing. sheltered bird roosts during David Scott high tides or storms. The Wildlife Enhancement Scheme (WES) This complex system of habitats, plants, animals and invertebrates has developed as a result of many years of farming on the North Somerset Levels and Moors and Severn Estuary Coast. English Nature’s Wildlife Enhancement Scheme (WES) aims to help farmers maintain or restore the management on which this David scott wildlife depends. The What is ‘favourable G Ditch banks: gently sloping with a variety of plants and objective of the WES is to condition’ on the some poached marshy areas. achieve ‘favourable G Willows: regularly pollarded. land? G Hedges: thick enough to condition’ on the land. provide cover for birds, but not G Ditches: supporting a wide shading out ditch plants which The WES is only available to variety of plants with stands of are also important for feeding those farmers who farm land sedges, grasses and rushes, birds. within or adjoining the areas floating plants such as frogbit G Grassland: uneven tussocky designated as Sites of Special and submerged plants such as sward with wildflowers and Scientific Interest. English water violet. used by breeding birds. Nature will work closely with G Water levels: the water in G Saltmarsh: tussocky sward DEFRA to achieve the optimum ditches should be at least two with a sequence of different land management using the best feet deep, although some communities of flowers and combination of available agri- ditches should be nearly grasses from the sea wall to environmental schemes, choked with emergent plants. the low tide mark. especially where the Countryside Stewardship Scheme can be complemented by this WES. North Somerset Levels and Moors and Severn Estuary Coast Wildlife Enhancement Scheme bagged by prior agreement North Somerset Levels and with English Nature I If required, apply home- Moors and Severn Estuary Coast produced well-rotted farmyard Wildlife Enhancement Scheme manure (FYM) as agreed with English Nature I Do not apply any FYM within Management Prescriptions 10m (33 feet) of all watercourses, ponds and field edges. 1 Permanent grassland Summer penning height# To provide conditions favourable I Outside the Summer penning Supplement C for a range of farmland wildlife… period, maintain water in Water level management* rhynes, ditches and ponds at a To achieve surface splash Do..... minimum depth of 15cm conditions for wintering I Graze extensively with cattle or (6 inches) wildfowl… sheep for a period of at least 10 I Rhynes and ditches are to be weeks between 1st April and 31st cleaned to a programme agreed I From 1 November to 15 October. At the end of the season with English Nature. They March control water levels in sward height should be uneven: should demonstrate a varied rhynes, ditches, gutters and between 5–20cm (2–8 inches) structure and a range of stages ponds to allow the retention I Apply agreed stocking rates from newly cleaned through to of surface water on fields, (normally, up to 1 Livestock Unit nearly choked with vegetation when weather conditions per hectare per annum) I Clean with English Nature- permit I Top pernicious weeds but not approved keeching equipment, I For the rest of the year from 15 March to 15 July with minimal disturbance to maintain water levels within I Comply with the standards of roots and ditch profile rhynes, ditches and ponds at # Good Farming Practice and I Cut vegetation on one side only the Summer penning height . Article 13 of the Rural of a rhyne or ditch leaving Development Implementing occasional patches of Supplement D Regulation, together with Best vegetation for recolonisation. Enhanced water level Farming Practices recommended Use a reciprocating cutter, or if management* by the Environment Agency necessary a flail mower To achieve winter and spring I Undertake an agreed programme I In order to achieve poached surface splash conditions suitable of rhyne and ditch management. edges, do not fence rhynes and for wintering and breeding waders ditches unless fields are and to reduce disturbance to Do not.... stocked with sheep. ground nesting birds… I Cultivate, re-seed, under-drain or alter existing drains (unless also Supplement B I From 1 November to 15 undertaking Supplement C or D) Hay meadow management March control water levels in I Roll, chain harrow or mow from To enhance conditions for ground- rhynes, ditches, gutters and 15 March to 15 July nesting birds, wildflowers and ponds to allow the retention of I Apply pesticides, inorganic invertebrates… surface water on fields, when fertiliser or slurry but herbicide weather conditions permit spot-treatment and weed-wiping I This supplement is only paid I From 16 March to 30 June may be permitted by prior when a hay crop has been made slowly reduce the area of agreement with English Nature and removed in accordance surface water but aim to I Feed supplements to livestock with a grazing and haymaking retain some wet patches unless by specific prior agreement plan approved by English I For the rest of the year with English Nature. Nature maintain water levels within I Shut-up fields from 15 March rhynes, ditches and ponds at Supplement A to 15 July the Summer penning height# Rhyne, ditch and pond I Leave a 6m (20 foot) uncut I Apply agreed stocking rates management* strip alongside all ditches, from 16 March to 30 June. To provide conditions favourable for rhynes and ponds aquatic plants and invertebrates ... I Make a hay crop after 15 July (#Dates and heights of Summer I Bales must be removed from penning are provided by your I Maintain water levels within fields within 2 weeks of baling local Internal Drainage Board or rhynes, ditches and ponds at the and may only be wrapped or the Environment Agency) Supplement E Small fields of less than Works payments 2 hectares* Construction of penning structures (bunds, sluices etc) I Manage small fields to ensure all boundaries are complete Timber sluice £150 (stockproof), permanent and Brick/stone/concrete sluice £400 natural and utilised for optimum Construction of culverts £75 wildlife benefit in the landscape Creation or re-instatement of field gutters or gripes £0.50 per m I Gateways must not be wider Creation of new ditches and reinstatement of old ditches £2 per m than 3.6m (12 feet) Creation of scrapes I Undertake an agreed 2 2 programme of appropriate field First 100 m £1.25 per m and field margin management. Thereafter £0.25 per m2 Creation of berms (shelves) and reprofiling £1.50 per m 2 Wildlife headlands Hedge coppicing and laying £3 per m Pollarding of trees £25 I Leave a 6m (20 foot) uncut strip Pond creation and restoration alongside all ditches, rhynes 2 2 and ponds First 100 m £3 per m 2 I Control brambles, nettles and Thereafter £0.50 per m thistles by cutting every 2-4 Protective fencing (with hedge coppicing or laying) £2 per m years. Provision of drinking points £40 Removal of existing fences £1 per m Special Projects* Scrub removal (alongside ditches, rhynes and ponds) £1.50 per m Payment for special projects may Timber otter holts £40 also be available. Please discuss Gate (including posts etc.) £125 your ideas for any such projects or works with English Nature. As there is no set payment for these, you may be offered a percentage of the agreed costs. Management payments For example, special payments may be available for: Habitat Payments 1 Permanent pasture £75 per ha G Saltmarsh and sea wall Supplements management A Rhyne Ditch and Pond Management £2 per 100 m G Registered pedigree Traditional B Hay meadow management £25 per ha Breeds grazing C Water level management £25 per ha G Improving the management of existing arable land for wildlife D Enhanced water level management £60 per ha G Restoration or enhancement of E Small fields: 1.1 – 2 ha £20 per ha wildlife habitats 0.6 – 1 ha £40 per ha G Nesting boxes for birds and 0.1 – 0.5 ha £80 per ha bats 2 Wildlife headlands £5 per 100 m G Whole farm plans G Geological enhancement works Maximum payment per farm: £5000 per year G Spreading hay from local species-rich grassland G Pest control and sporting For further information, please contact management English Nature, G Parasite treatment and control.