2008

• August 2008 Newsletter - Cross-compliance failure: a costly mistake

• Hedgerow Management DVD launch - help for land managers & advisers - July 2008 - read more

• Sheep and Goat Identification Newsletter - May 2008

• Find out what the common Cross Compliance breaches were in 2007 - RPA 2007 INSPECTION STATISTICS PUBLISHED - 28th April 2008

• Single Payment Scheme 2007 payment update - 18th April 2008

• 2008 Newsletter - Returning land from set-aside

• Cross Compliance Publications 2008

• 5-point plan for protecting the environmental benefit of set-aside

2007

• Click here for Hedge cutting: Answers to 18 common questions
• Click here to see the Summer 2007 newsletter
• Information about the Cross Compliance Advice Programme

2006

1.Protecting the environmental benefits of set-aside.

Although set-aside was not designed to deliver wildlife benefits, much wildlife thrived on it simply because it provided a different range of habitats and feeding opportunities and there was so much of it. Similarly, leaving specific areas uncultivated can provide benefits for the protection of soil and water. The same environmental benefits could be created on a much smaller area if the land is managed specifically to deliver these benefits. Hilary Benn’s challenge to the farming industry is to protect these environmental benefits in light of the removal of the requirement to manage any land as set-aside in 2008.

So, how can this be achieved? The Curry Group has come up with a five-point plan.

The five point plan:

1. Assess the environmental value of your permanent set-aside land
2. Provide seed food for birds through the winter
3. Provide insect-rich habitats and nesting sites for birds through the summer
4. Protect soil and water from erosion and run-off on banks, margins and steep slopes
5. Find out more about helping scarce species and protecting the environment on your farm

For practical information on how this can be achieved please click here

Hedgerow Management DVD

A DVD to help land managers and advisers make informed decisions about hedgerow management was launched at the 2008 Royal Show.

It was produced through a partnership, led by Natural England, of  CPRE, Defra, National Hedgelaying Society, NE, RSPB, Tree Council.

To see more details about the DVD and how to obtain a copy please see the press release of the launch.

At the same time as launching the DVD, Natural England also launched Hedgelink as the new name for the UK Hedgerow HAP Steering Group partnership.  Click here to go to the new Hedgelink website.