Countryside Management Questions
1. I need to dig out a slurry tank/dispose of soil within my own farm. Can I dispose of the soil on my own land?
4. I want to report someone cutting scrub/clearing scrub with a digger or ploughing up uncultivated land.Who do I contact?
Infilling / Reclamation Queries
1.I need to dig out a slurry tank/dispose of soil within my own farm. Can I dispose of the soil on my own land?
You will need to contact the Special Studies Unit, Planning Service, DOE, regarding disposal of this material. Their telephone number is 028 9041 6892.
You will need to contact the Special Studies Unit, Planning Service, DOE. Their telephone number is 028 9041 6892.
You will need to contact the Special Studies Unit, Planning Service, DOE. Their telephone number is 028 9041 6892.
4.I want to report someone cutting scrub/clearing scrub with a digger or ploughing up uncultivated land.Who do I contact?
Your local Grants and Subsidies Inspection Branch office will deal with your query.
Current European regulations prohibit projects, which will change the use of land by bringing uncultivated land or semi-natural areas into intensive agricultural use. Uncultivated land or semi-natural areas include unimproved grassland, heath and moorland, scrubland and wetlands. Projects include practices such as ploughing, rotovating, discing and reseeding.
You will need to discuss your query with your local Countryside Management Branch staff.
Hedge Cutting / Field Boundary Removal
Your local Grants and Subsidies Inspection Branch office will deal with your query.
Removal of field boundaries, including dry stone walls, ditches, hedges, rows of trees and earth banks is not permitted without prior written permission from DARD. This includes piping sheughs or laying drainage pipes in open sheughs. This applies to all land within an agricultural business, irrespective of whether it is used to activate Single Farm Payment Scheme entitlements.
You will need to submit an ‘Application to Remove a Field Boundary’ form in the first instance. These forms are available from your local DARD office. The completed form should be returned to Countryside Management Branch at your local DARD office. DARD will then assess your application using field boundary assessment criteria, including consideration of the field size and the quality of the field boundary. DARD will inform you of the decision in writing.
Yes, but an exemption is required under the Waste Management Regulations. You can obtain an agricultural exemptions application pack by contacting DOE, Environment and Heritage Service, Land & Resource Management, Klondyke Building, Cromac Ave, Gas Works Business Park, Lower Ormeau Rd, Belfast BT7 2JA Tel. 028 9056 9361.
It is important to remember that even when an exemption has been obtained, you must not destroy or damage birds, their nests or eggs, nor disturb birds when they are nesting and comply with the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. For this reason is advisable to avoid burning branches and other cuttings during the bird nesting season.
It is important to remember that even when an exemption has been obtained, you must not destroy or damage birds, their nests or eggs, nor disturb birds when they are nesting and comply with the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. For this reason is advisable to avoid burning branches and other cuttings during the bird nesting season.
Booklet / Leaflet Request
10.Can you send me a copy of the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Prevention of Pollution?
On Wednesday 3rd September 2008 a new version of the Code of Good Agricultural Practice was published by Countryside Management Branch (CMB) DARD. A copy can be obtained by contacting CMB on (028) 8675 7507 or it can be viewed on-line .