Guides of Good Practice

Vegetation Management

SUMMARY

This is a summary of one of a series of Guides of Good Practice which have been produced to help commoners in dealing with key issues. The full guide is available from the Federation. All comments are welcome.

  1. Vegetation on Cumbrian commons is a result of the climate and soils present naturally in the county, modified by centuries of human activity, particularly through grazing livestock.

Most commons have escaped direct agricultural improvement, and as such represent probably the biggest single resource of unimproved land in the UK. Cumbria has 30% of the common land in England. The vegetation and the wildlife that this vegetation supports are often of national or even international importance.

  1. Changes to the Common Agricultural Policy, and proposed changes to commons legislation, mean that there are new opportunities for commoners to obtain income by managing commons for the environment, as well as for livestock production. Understanding and monitoring vegetation is at the core of these new opportunities.
  2. There are a large range of organisations and individuals who have an interest in managing vegetation on commons,as discussed in the full Code.

It is important to understand the objectives of the different organisations in order to avoid conflicts and the risk of losing subsidy payments. In the past, the main risk has been that of being assessed for overgrazing. The nature of the risks is now changing, with CAP reform, and it is not yet clear exactly how this will operate. However, it seems likely that 'cross-compliance' (ie the conditions for receipt of the single farm payment) will be an important tool for enforcing some environmental management. According to the current proposals, cross-compliance will include the requirement of keeping land in 'good agricultural and environmental condition'. The precise interpretation of this is still being discussed.

The new Agri-Environment Schemes are likely to provide potential for extra benefits for those commons which choose to manage the environment more intensively.

  1. The first step in considering management of vegetation on the common is to find out the unique vegetation types that are present on the common.

A full survey can be a complicated process. Most commons would normally require help with this. The full Guide has further information on surveys and more information can be obtained by contacting the Federation of Cumbria Commoners. In addition, there is increasing interest amongst Defra and English Nature in 'quick and dirty' methods of assessing vegetation.

  1. Deciding how to define the vegetation change which is desired is an even more complicated question. Agencies will have their own views about this, but commons should seek to be involved in discussions at all early stages.

Ensuring the common meets the general requirement of 'good agricultural and environmental condition' will probably require general monitoring of the average vegetation cover. Getting involved in more ambitious Agri-Environment Schemes (especially the Higher Tier Scheme) is likely to require identifying some key types of vegetation on the common which may be of interest and may require special treatment.

Assessing the impact farming practices on the vegetation types is a complex subject. Defra and English Nature have started defining their assumptions more clearly. They have estimated the biomass produced by different vegetation in different conditions and have used this to estimate 'maintenance stocking rates'. English Nature have then made the crude assumption that they need to set stocking rates at half the maintenance rates if they are to achieve the sort of rapid vegetation response which they are aiming for.

More information is available from the Federation of Cumbria Commoners.

  1. The options for managing vegetation are usually unique to that common.

The basic prescriptions for Agri-Environment Schemes are applied to all commons. However, there has been some scope for negotiating special conditions in the past and the indications are that the new Agri-Environment Schemes will include more flexibility.

  1. There are a wide range of methods available for managing vegetation.

Many of these are part of the common knowledge of farmers and gamekeepers. More information is provided in Appendix 3 of the Full Guide, which is available from the Federation Administrator and on the website. It can also be useful to consult The Upland Management Handbook, which presents English Nature's views on vegetation management.

  1. The main management tool is changes to stock management (ie overall stocking rates, the mix of stock types, the timing of stocking, shepherding and supplementary feeding).

These are the main forms of vegetation management that will be the concern of agri-environment Schemes. Variations in any of these, or the relative changes of one to the other, can have dramatic effects on the vegetation present on the common.

The temporary exclusion of stock is useful in some circumstances, but this is rarely possible on commons because of the difficulty of getting consent to fence.

  1. Burning of heather, grasses, gorse, and bracken.

The burning of heather and grasses is sometimes appropriate, but environmentalists are often concerned about the damage done to minority species. The burning of gorse and bracken is also used sometimes, but tends to produce rather short-term gains.

  1. Cutting of bracken (including crushing), gorse, rushes, and heather.

Cutting is often a useful technique where access is possible. But it needs to be sustained and is very time consuming.Commoners should negotiate appropriate payment rates before making commitments to cut.

  1. Chemical Control of bracken, gorse, and rushes.

This is expensive and is normally only carried out on a small scale for gathering purposes, or where there is grant-aid under an Agri-Environment Schemes. To be eligible under current Agri-Environment Schemes, there must be direct habitat and wildlife benefits.

  1. Moorland grip blocking is often proposed by environmentalists.

Grip blocking is proposed because it slows down water movement off the common and helps to restore blanket bog and mires. It may also reduce erosion and flooding lower down. However, there may be important indirect effects on the common, notably on animal health. Commons should be sure to obtain full compensation for the direct and indirect effects of any grip blocking.

  1. Vehicle access can create localised damage and needs to be managed carefully.
  2. Public access and recreation can have some impact on vegetation and commoners need to be sure that they are not held responsible for damage caused by visitors.

FCC, Applegarth, Middleton, Kirkby Lonsdale, CumbriaLA6 2LX

March 2004