Controlling Scrub in Agri-environment Schemes

Under agri-environment schemes farm scrub is an important wildlife habitat.  However, scrub can be invasive and can damage other important wildlife habitats. Control may be required.  

Scrub is an area that is dominated by at least 50 percent cover of shrubs, stunted trees or brambles.  It may contain hawthorn, blackthorn, European gorse (whin), blackberry / bramble, honeysuckle, dog rose, bushy willows (sally) or hazel.

Scrub can be a distinctive landscape feature and a habitat for the linnet, yellowhammer and spiders. Additionally, whin and willow flowers are early nectar sources for bees. In an agri-environment scheme the area of scrub and features within it must be retained and managed.  Routine hand cutting is required to maintain and improve access for livestock.

Some types of scrub, mainly whin and blackthorn can spread into and damage other habitats such as species-rich grassland, bogs, moorland and bird breeding sites. If dense enough, the scrub can shade out the underlying plants and reduce the range of wildlife present, thus control may be required.

Scrub control may be required to ensure farm land is eligible for Single Farm Payment (SFP) and the Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowance (LFACA).  Dense patches of scrub and whin which are not grazeable underneath, or areas inaccessible because of scrub or whin, must be excluded from the area claimed, otherwise penalties may be applied.  Maintaining land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) is a requirement of Cross-Compliance and preventing undergrazing, including controlling spreading scrub is essential.

Neither burning of scrub nor mechanical removal, for example by a digger, is permitted on an agri-environment scheme habitat. These methods can increase scrub spread and damage the habitat. Spraying with herbicides is only permitted on improved land and semi-improved grassland.

Whin stems should be cut and the stump surface treated immediately with Glyphosate. Blackthorn stems should be cut to 10-20 cm (4-8 inches) high. Holes should be immediately drilled in the stump surface and then filled with Glyphosate.

Scrub cutting and the burning of cut material must only be carried out between 1 September and 28/29 February to avoid disturbing nesting birds.  Cut material may only be burned if it is removed from the habitat to a site agreed beforehand with DARD and only if exempted from the Waste Management Regulations (NI) 2006, by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).  The control of scrub on Areas of Special Scientific Interest requires prior written consent from NIEA.

For further advice on scrub control contact your Countryside Management Adviser at your local DARD office.

Agri-environment scheme farmers inspect whin removal from a farm habitat near Silverbridge, Co. Armagh