How Do I Carry Out the FwNT Scheme Actions?

Creating A Riparian Buffer Strips Action - Additional Guidance Note for Riparian Buffer Strips has recently been added to this page. 

Planting New Hedgerows

Code - NHG

The aim of this action is to create new lengths of hedgerows planted with native species where no hedge currently exists. It must not be placed against an existing hedgerow or under the shade of a treeline/woodland.

If planting new hedgerows you must:

1. plant a new hedgerow:-
   1. where no hedgerow currently exists or
   2. where there is a continuous gap of 10 metres or more between existing hedgerows;
2. ensure each length of new hedgerows planted is a minimum of 10 metres
3. plant one or more species of native hedge plants* with an average of six native hedge plants per metre
4. protect newly planted hedgerows from damage by grazing livestock and wildlife on all sides as required
5. manage the hedgerow to prevent growth being negatively affected by weeds
6. manage and maintain the full length of hedgerow planted
7. complete all work related to the action by 31st March of the same scheme year
8. not plant a new hedgerow:-
   1. against an existing hedgerow or
   2. under the shade of a treeline or woodland and
   3. ensure if erecting protective fencing it meets the eligibility criteria set out below

An eligible farm business will receive a scheme payment for any protective fencing erected up to a maximum of twice the length of newly planted hedgerows which meet the eligibility criteria set out below.

* List of approved native hedgerow species can be found below:

Guidance Note for Planting New Hedgerows

Creating Riparian Buffer Strips

Code – BST 2m strip
Code – BSS 7m strip

The aim of this action is to create a vegetated riparian buffer strip which will prevent livestock access to the watercourse, reduce bankside erosion and reduce the transport of pollutants to the watercourse. It will also provide habitat for wildlife and form links between other habitats.

If creating a riparian buffer strip you must:

1. establish it alongside a watercourse
2. create a riparian buffer strip that is
   1. a minimum distance of 2 metres from the edge of a watercourse or
   2. a minimum distance of 7 metres from the edge of a designated watercourse
3. erect continuous protective fencing adjacent to the entire length of the watercourse along-
   1. each boundary and
   2. both sides of an internal watercourse
4. install a gate and two posts to riparian buffer strips 7 metres wide every 150 metres, or part thereof where the riparian buffer strip is greater than 150 metres in length
5. complete all work by 31st March of the same scheme year
6. retain the riparian buffer strip for a retention period of at least fifteen years beginning with 31st March of the same scheme year

‘Watercourse’ means any channel through which water may flow as identified by DAERA using LPIS data.

‘Designated Watercourse’ means a watercourse designated by the Drainage Council under the drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973©.

Guidance Note for Creation of Riparain Buffer Strip

See also: Additional Guidance Note for Riparian Buffer Strips

Farmland Tree Planting

Code - FTP

The aim of this action is to establish native trees on farms. Native trees can be integrated across farmland and may be placed downwind of livestock buildings or as a shelter belt for livestock.

If planting trees you must:

1. not plant trees on permanent grassland sensitive areas, breeding wader or peatland sites as identified by the Department and notified to you
2. plant one or more native tree species **
3. ensure a minimum of 0.05 hectares are planted at 2.5 metre spacing in the same plot at a planting rate of 1,600 trees per hectare
4. protect each newly planted tree with a guard and stake
5. exclude livestock from the area in which new trees are planted
6. manage and maintain trees planted including the removal of grass and weeds within tree guards
7. complete all work by 31st March of the same scheme year
8. retain planted trees for a minimum retention period of twenty years beginning with 31st March of the same scheme year
9. ensure if erecting protective fencing it meets the criteria set out below

** List of approved tree species can be found in the Guidance Note for Farmland Tree Planting

This action should not be carried out near overhead powerlines, underground services, where it may affect or obstruct a neighbours property or where it may overlap with ineligible features. Farmland tree planting should also not be carried out close to buildings or where it may obstruct future farm development.

Guidance Note for Farmland Tree Planting

Retention of Winter Stubble

Code - WST

The aim of this action is to benefit wildlife by retaining the stubble from an arable crop over the winter, providing a feed source for seed eating birds and a habitat for other wildlife.

This action can be completed on arable land that is growing a spring-sown or autumn-sown cereal, oilseed rape, protein crop or linseed. It is not available on stubble following the harvest of maize or on under-sown crops. It cannot be completed on Permanent Grassland Sensitive (PGS) areas.

If retaining winter stubble you must:

1. Meet the criteria in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4)
2. This action can be completed on arable land determined by LPIS data on which is growing:-
   1. spring-sown cereal
   2. autumn-sown cereal
   3. oilseed rape
   4. protein crop or
   5. linseed
3. This action cannot be completed on:-
   1. permanent grassland sensitive areas as identified by the Department and notified to an you and
   2. stubble following the harvest of:-
      1. maize or
      2. under-sown crops
4. When retaining winter stubble, you must:-
   1. retain that winter stubble in the whole arable field, in line with normal husbandry practice
   2. retain it from the harvest until 15th February the following year
   3. ensure that straw is either:-
      1. removed after the harvest
      2. stored in field as bales or
      3. left as chopped straw
   4. ensure stubble is not grazed or cut
   5. not apply inorganic fertiliser after the harvest

In the case of the Retention of Winter Stubble action:

Normal husbandry practice means that stubble must be produced from a crop grown and harvested in a manner that would be expected to produce a viable crop i.e. you must have prepared the land and sown the seeds in a manner and at a seed rate that would be expected to produce a normal marketable crop and harvested that crop.

Guidance Note for Retention of Winter Stubble

Multi-Species Winter Cover Crops

Code - WCC

The aim of this action is to establish a multi-species cover crop before the winter to provide soil health benefits, a habitat and source of winter feed for wildlife and improve water quality. Over winter cover crops protect the soil surface, reducing the risk of soil erosion and runoff. The roots of actively growing plants, benefit soil structure, support soil biology and soak up residual nutrients. Together with their soil shielding effects, cover crops minimise the risk of nutrient leaching.

Available on arable land as determined by DAERA. It cannot be completed on Permanent Grassland Sensitive (PGS) areas.

If establishing multi-species winter cover crop you must:

1. Meet the criteria in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4)
2. This action can be completed on arable land as determined by LPIS data
3. When establishing multi-species winter cover crop, you must:-
   1. establish a multi-species winter cover crop across the whole arable field, as determined by LPIS data, in line with normal husbandry practice
   2. use a seed mix containing at least two species from two or more of the following plant families:-
      1. brassicas
      2. legumes
      3. cereals or grasses and
      4. herbs
   3. not apply inorganic fertiliser and
   4. establish the cover crop, retain it to 15th February the following year and then destroy it in line with normal husbandry practice
4. This action cannot be completed on permanent grassland sensitive areas as determined by the Department and notified to you

In the case of Multi-species Winter Cover Crop:

Normal husbandry practice means that the required seed mix must be sown and established in a manner and at a seed rate that would be expected to produce a viable multi-species winter cover crop and then destroyed in preparation for the following crop.

Guidance Note for Multi-species Winter Cover Crop

The following table shows what actions can/cannot be applied for within the same field:

Field Overlaps

	Add Hedgerows	Add Multi-Species Cover Crop	Add Retention of Winter Stubble	Add Riparian Buffer Strip (7m)	Add Riparian Buffer Strip (2m)	Add Farmland Tree Planting
Add Hedgerows	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓
Add Multi-Species Cover Crop	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
Add Retention of Winter Stubble	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
Add Riparian Buffer Strip (7m)	✓	✗	✗	N/A	N/A	✓
Add Riparian Buffer Strip (2m)	✓	✗	✗	N/A	N/A	✓
Add Farmland Tree Planting	✓	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓

• ✓ - Can Overlap
• ✗ - Cannot Overlap

Riparian Buffers can be placed close to but not on other actions. If there is more than one watercourse present within a field, a Riparian Buffer must be created on all watercourses in that same field. If you have selected the creation of a Riparian Buffer Zone action, you can also select Farmland Tree Planting or Planting New Hedgerows within the same field, if the location is suitable and you can meet the specifications for those actions.

For Farmland Tree Planting you can also select Planting New Hedgerows if the location is suitable or the creation of a Riparian Buffer Zone, if the field contains a watercourse as defined by DAERA within the same field, and you can meet the specifications for those actions.

For Planting New Hedgerows you can also select Farmland Tree Planting if the location is suitable, or the creation of a Riparian Buffer Zone, if the field contains a watercourse as defined by DAERA within the same field, and you can meet the specifications for those actions.

As Retention of Winter Stubble and Multi Species Winter Cover Crop actions must cover the entire field it will not be possible to carry out any further actions within those fields.

Supporting Items

Protective fencing is mandatory for 2m riparian buffer strips. Protective fencing and gate and posts are mandatory for 7m riparian buffer strips. For other actions supporting items may be used as required, as per the details in the table below.

For creation of a Riparian Buffer Strip, either 2m or 7m, you can choose either a Drinking Trough and Base or a Pasture Pump, if required.

You will be required to retain all receipts and to produce them if requested during inspection.

	Supporting Items	Supporting Items	Supporting Items
Environmental Action	Protective Fencing	Gate and 2 posts	Drinking trough and base or Pasture pump
Planting new hedgerow	Optional	N/A	N/A
Creation of 2 m riparian buffer strip	Mandatory	Optional	Optional
Creation of 7 m riparian buffer strip	Mandatory	Mandatory (1 or more depending on length of buffer strip)	Optional
Farmland tree planting	Optional	Optional	N/A
Retention of winter stubble	N/A	N/A	N/A
Multi-species winter cover crop	N/A	N/A	N/A

Protective Fencing

Code - PRF

1. If installing protective fencing you must:-
   1. erect protective fencing using new and commercially available materials
   2. erect protective fencing which is permanent and
   3. construct the protective fencing using wire which:-
      1. is galvanised
      2. is strained to straining posts and
      3. is erected with a minimum of five strands of wire; or sheep mesh with two strands of wire
2. Where you plant new hedgerows, any protective fencing you erect must be no more than an average of 3 metres from the centre of the hedgerow
3. Where paragraph (2) applies then the maximum protective fencing for which payment may be made is twice the length of the hedgerow
4. Where you plant farmland trees, any protective fencing you erect must be no more than an average of 3 metres from the trees
5. Where paragraph (4) applies the maximum protective fencing that for which payment may be made is 150 metres per plot

Gate and Two Posts

Code - GTP

If installing a gate and two posts, you must:

1. erect that gate and two posts using materials which are new and commercially available
2. not use wooden posts and
3. install gates of at least 4.27 metres (14ft) wide

Drinking Trough

Code - TRB

If you are installing a drinking trough you must–

1. install one which is new and commercially available;
2. place it on a concrete base; and
3. install the drinking trough and its concrete base at least 10 metres from any watercourse.

Pasture Pump

Code - PPU

If you are installing a pasture pump, you must:-

1. install one which is new and commercially available and
2. install it at least 10 metres from any watercourse