AB5: Nesting plots for lapwing (and in Higher Tier, stone curlew)
How much will be paid
£765 per hectare (ha).
Where to use this option
Where this option cannot be used
- On parcels that are at risk of soil erosion or runoff as identified in the Farm Environment Record (FER)
- On historic or archaeological features identified in your HEFER or FER
Related Mid Tier options
The following options and supplements can be located on the same area as this option.
How this option will benefit the environment
It provides nesting sites for lapwing (and where applicable, stone curlew) on arable land. The plots can also benefit other declining farmland birds, brown hare and some important arable plants.
If successful there will be:
- lapwing using plots for nesting and raising their young
- other farmland birds, brown hare and arable plants on the plot areas
Aims
If you’re selected for a site visit, we will check that delivery of the aims is being met and the prohibited activities have not been carried out. This will ensure the environmental benefits are being delivered.
By early spring, the uncropped fallow plot (a minimum of 1ha and a maximum of 5ha in size) will be established within the crop. The fallow plot will have enough bare ground (at least 30%) for nesting birds. Where natural regeneration covers more than 70% of the plot, suitable bare-ground habitat will be restored by late April, making sure first that no nesting birds are present on the plots.
Retain the plot until the crop is harvested from late July.
Prohibited activities
To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities.
- Locate plots within 100 metres (m) of woods, in-field and hedgerow trees, buildings, overhead power lines, main roads and public rights of way, or within 200m of wind turbines
On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any prohibited activities.
Recommended management
To assist you in achieving the aims and deliver the environmental benefits for this option, we recommend that you employ best practice.
We recommend that you:
- create individual plots in fields which must be a minimum of 5ha (or 10ha if woodland forms at least a quarter of the field boundary)
- plots may be in a fixed location in or rotated around eligible fields
- create the cultivated plots by 20 March
- where natural regeneration covers more than 70% of the plot by 30 April, restore suitable bare-ground nesting habitat making sure first that no nesting birds are present on the plots
- retain cultivated areas until 31 July.
Keeping records
Where there is uncertainty about whether the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.
- Field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices
- Photographs of the plot
Additional guidance and advice
The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.
Pick the right location
Research shows that plots should be located:
- on level or slightly sloping ground
- next to extensively managed grassland where lapwings can feed their chicks
- on arable fields of at least 5ha, or 10ha if woodland forms at least a quarter of the field boundary
- away from waterlogged areas or land with weeds such as black-grass, wild oats or sterile brome
- at least 100m away from woods, in-field and hedgerow trees, buildings, overhead power-lines, main roads and public rights of way
- at least 200m away from wind turbines
This option can be used in a sequence with basic overwinter stubble to provide a continuity of habitat for species such as skylark and corn bunting.
How to establish the plots
Plots can be established by cultivation or spraying to create the fallow.
On heavier soils, plots can be ploughed the previous autumn and allowed to weather down to provide suitable nesting conditions in early spring.
Managing the plots
Machinery carrying out day to day farm operations such as spraying and fertilising can travel over these plots provided that the machinery keeps to the tramlines and is switched off when doing so.
Plots and plot tramlines should be checked for signs of nests prior to such travel taking place.
Nesting plots for stone curlews
There are specific areas in England where stone curlews are the target farmland bird for nesting plots. These plots and their specific management requirements will be available under Higher Tier.
Biodiversity
This option has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.
The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.
Further information
Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier and Higher Tier including how to apply.
[FER]: Farm Environmental Record
[HEFER]: Historic Environment Farm Environmental Record