AHW5

Establish and manage a fallow cultivated plot within an arable crop by early spring, ensuring there is enough bare ground for nesting lapwings. The plot must be retained until the summer harvest and the end of the bird nesting season (late July).

This action must be performed annually for its 3-year duration. If the start date is too late, the plot must be established within the first 12 months. In the final year, it must be maintained until the summer harvest or the action's end date.

The method is flexible, but you must follow the mandatory requirements and act in a way that is reasonably expected to achieve the action's aim.

You must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is not at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use the soil management plan produced for CSAM1 or SAM1 to identify this.

You must also keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

• field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
• photographs or other documentation

If it’s not clear that you’ve done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.

For best results, locate plots on level ground near managed grassland, away from obstructions and problem weeds. Plots of 1-5ha are recommended. They can be established by cultivation or spraying in early spring. Care should be taken with machinery access to avoid damaging nests.