Environment Newsletter - June 2023

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In this month's edition:

• ACRES dates for your diary
  • Until July 1: no topping or mowing of extensively grazed pasture.
  • By July 31, 2023: erect barn owl box.
  • By August 31, 2023: establish 3, 4, 6 or 8m grass margins in tillage fields by sowing a grass seed mix (unless already established in the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS)) – fencing only required where cattle are present.
  • By August 31, 2023: establish 3, 4, 6 or 8m wide riparian strips and riparian zones in tillage fields by sowing a grass seed mix (unless already established in GLAS).
  • By August 31, 2023: establish a 10m grass margin around selected archaeological monuments in tillage fields by sowing a grass seed mix.
• Scoring low-input grassland
  Approximately 100,000ha of low-input grassland was selected under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). These fields will be assessed by ACRES advisors this summer to determine how they score for payment using the ACRES grassland scorecard. Ecological integrity is assessed.
• Arable grass margins
  Linear habitats provide corridors of movement and networks for nature through the countryside as well as being habitats of high biodiversity value. Good structure is as important as species present. Lumpy and bumpy is good for associated invertebrates.
• Arable buffer strips and zones
  Linear buffer strips provide corridors of movement and networks for nature through the countryside similar to arable grass margins. However arable buffer strips and zones also help protect water quality by intercepting sediment and nutrients from soil surfaces if they are mobilised, preventing their loss to the adjoining streams, surface drains, rivers, lakes or ponds.