LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENT Applicant guidance for SFP
The Scottish Government has issued new guidance notes for Single Farm Payment (SFP) applicants. The notes highlight important changes since 2009 in relation to entitlement transfers, short rotation
coppice and claiming through euros or sterling.
The Scottish Government stresses that the notes do not provide a definitive statement of the law (which only the courts can
give), nor can they substitute for advice on specific legal questions. The key message in relation to gorse and bracken is that where vegetative cover (scrub, gorse or density of bracken or bracken litter,
etc) prevents the availability of viable forage, the area is not eligible for SFPS or LFASS.
The SRPBA is looking into this issue and will keep members updated. For further information, visit
www.scotland.gov.uk/ Resource/Doc/310994/0098126.pdf
National Access Forum consider electric fencing
An important issue for land managers was discussed at the National Access Forum held on 19 May at Battleby near Perth. Electric fencing in both upland and lowland settings was considered, although the main issue in terms of access to the countryside tends to be extensive stretches of electric fencing in the Scottish uplands. This type of fencing is often associated with deer management and as such, the fencing can also be too high for many hill-goers to consider trying to cross anywhere other than at a proper crossing point. Where there is a lack of such crossing points, this type of fencing can present a fairly impenetrable barrier. The SRPBA provides information to members on fencing and other countryside structures in light of access rights, and the Moorland Forum has produced guidance specially around designing electric fencing for access in upland situations. Both pieces of guidance were made available to the Forum. Although some organisations would prefer electric fencing not to be used at all, most simply make a call for regular, safe crossing points to be provided across high and/or electrified fencing.
Signs warning that fencing is electrified are also important in terms of the duty of care land managers have to the public. The SRPBA’s guidance is available on our website
www.srpba.com or by contacting headquarters. The Moorland Forum’s guidance
is available at
www.moorland
forum.org.uk
Other issues considered by the
Forum in May included developing assistance for land managers who have sites which are particularly sensitive to disturbance by dogs and finalising national-level
For information about these issues or the National Access Forum, contact Anne Gray, Policy Officer (Access) at headquarters or e-mail
anne.gray@
srpba.com
guidance on outdoors events which utilise access rights.
LANDBUSINESS ISSUE 36 JUNE-JULY 2010
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