§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) information and (b) incentives her Department provides to farmers regarding the establishment of field margins for wildlife preservation. [69631]
§ Mr. MorleyCereal field margins are a priority habitat under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, with a target of 12,725 hectares under sympathetic management in
Regulations Section Consultation commenced Consultation ended Date regulations in force Regulations regarding mapping of access land and consultation on draft maps 11 March 2001 20 June 2001 1 November 2001 Regulations regarding issue of provisional maps, appeals, and issue of conclusive maps 11 November 2001 8 February 2002 29 July 2002 Regulations regarding the establishment of local access forums and the appointment of members 194 July 2001 23 October 2001 August 2002 Regulations regarding dedication of land for access 16 January 2002 15 April 2002 November 2002 Regulations relating to exclusion or restriction of access under Chapter II, including appeals (but not emergencies) 32 December 2001 22 March 2002 December 2002 Regulations on removal or relaxation of restrictions on access land and to exclude access in emergencies (including appeals) 231 January 2003 — August 2003 Regulations on appeals relating to notices 38 February 2003 — September 2003 References to public places in existing enactments 42 February 2003 — October 2003 Regulations regarding review of conclusive maps 11 February 2004 — August 2004 1Part V
2 Paragraph 7, Schedule 2
Under the Countryside Agency's current published timetable for the mapping of open country and registered common land, the final provisional map in England would be issued by the end of March 2004.
304WEngland by 2010. The Department has been actively encouraging the management of field margins by making grants available in schemes such as Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas. As a result, the cereal field margin target has been exceeded almost 10 years ahead of schedule.
Grant aid is available for six and two-metre grass margins, beetle banks and uncropped strips. The new Countryside Stewardship arable options, introduced earlier this year, have added wildlife mixtures and conservation headlands to this list.
The Department funds ADAS and FWAG to provide free advice to farmers on a range of conservation issues, including the wildlife friendly management of field margins. DEFRA also co-funds a range of conservation leaflets with RSPB, which include advice and guidance on practical management of field margins.