About to do Hedgerows survey

[Pata]

How are you all doing the hedgerows survey. I understand this survey is perfectly OK done by the farmer. Are you using an app and any potential pitfalls I should look out for.

 

[farmerm]

I’ve more pressing jobs but need to do it at some point so watching with interest…

How to do the SFI actions for hedgerows

Find out how you could do the SFI actions for hedgerows.

www.gov.uk

The guidance recommends this app https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/healthy-hedgerows-survey

I’m just a bit wary, who can see that data? Could it become a stick to beat us with?

 

[SamN]

I've assessed the hedges as per the app, but written the data down on a paper map

 

[Pata]

Interesting initially thought pen and paper but wondered if it would be easier on the app. Rather used to writing things down but there would be a lot of writing

 

[e3120]

Don't like the idea of an app, partly because of data and partly because it could easily become the standard. Can't be bothered with pen/paper, so excel it is. I foresee extensive use of ctrl+c, ctrl+v, but probably won't do anything until prompted.

 

[Still Farming]

Welsh tree and habitat farm confirmation process currently on also in WALES ?

 

[Salopian_Will]

I've assessed the hedges as per the app, but written the data down on a paper map

Interesting initially thought pen and paper but wondered if it would be easier on the app. Rather used to writing things down but there would be a lot of writing

Don't like the idea of an app, partly because of data and partly because it could easily become the standard. Can't be bothered with pen/paper, so excel it is. I foresee extensive use of ctrl+c, ctrl+v, but probably won't do anything until prompted.

Very sensible. I read the privacy policy - from memory it said something along the lines of that the data would be shared with third parties.

 

[yellow belly]

i plan to us a spreadsheet with field names number and the type of hedge

Hedge Structures

hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org

using adams hedgerow management scale
simple to follow

should not take too long and have enough detail
save on computer so can just end to rpa if they want to check its been done

i had a stewardship check on one parcel this year sent a photo of each side of a 5 acre field this satisfied the rpa records check

i have a slight concern that the rpa maps now have updated hedgerow lenghts with numerous section on many fields if they check a few identifying them may be a problem
but i will cross that bridge when it happens

the hedges are on the ground so if they phisically inspect they will find them but it will be a big job
took a month to measure stewardship in 2018 without hedges
now have multiple options and actions in fields so measuring would take longer
i only need to meet the aims of the option and action with no penalty for individual field mistakes as long as the total for each option action is on the ground

 

[Vader]

Payment rate does not seem enough to give away the data.
Especially when been stuff about hedges being carbon sinks.
It's a cheap way for gov to know how many hedges about to then use for who knows what.

Same with the soil testing stuff.

 

[Walton2]

Get your land agent to do it! I asked Janet how they came up with the figures for that sort of task. I didn’t get an answer of course. I reckon Co-Design in this case means you provide your part of a National Hedgerow Database to DEFRA (and the stick to beat you with) at a bargain price!
I also reckon any land agent would want treble what you are receiving to do the same survey….oh, and by the way, you would need to indemnify him of responsibility if there were errors!

 

[e3120]

On the providing data to defra point, I view it the same way as mass balance: provide evidence that it's been done but not the results.

 

[yellow belly]

The Rpa system already has every hedge listed with its length
The updated the data this year and it is now accurate compared to the system they had under greening

 

[Vader]

On the providing data to defra point, I view it the same way as mass balance: provide evidence that it's been done but not the results.

But they can ask for the results...

 

[Vader]

The Rpa system already has every hedge listed with its length
The updated the data this year and it is now accurate compared to the system they had under greening

When did they update it?
As earlier this year ours were not correct.
Still hedges missing and hedges on their system that don't exist.

 

[topground]

DEFRA ignored those of us on the hedgerow pilot when we told them tagging trees was a nonsense especially when they hadn’t decided on the definition of a tree.
Do they still require tagging? Have ther decided what a tree is? I have hedges 20ft tall! Is this a hedge or a linear wood?
Haven’t looked since I am looking forward to being RPA free as soon as the pilot ends.
SFI remains Simply Financially Inadequate here.

 

[Vader]

DEFRA ignored those of us on the hedgerow pilot when we told them tagging trees was a nonsense especially when they hadn’t decided on the definition of a tree.
Do they still require tagging? Have ther decided what a tree is? I have hedges 20ft tall! Is this a hedge or a linear wood?
Haven’t looked since I am looking forward to being RPA free as soon as the pilot ends.
SFI remains Simply Financially Inadequate here.

Problem is they been led by all the 'expert' farmers and regen/ nature friendly farming groups.
Average joe bloggs farmers is now labeled a bumpkin nature destroyer.

 

[yellow belly]

When did they update it?
As earlier this year ours were not correct.
Still hedges missing and hedges on their system that don't exist.

not sure exactly but i had a whole farm with no hedges on their system under greening

under a hedge row check this year they told we i had less than i applied for on thier system and that their system had a better more accurate data
i looked and found they had remapped and their data was near spot on
thy just had not taken into account that where there are wide grass verges i have controll of both sides of roadside hedges so can claim double the length

 

[yellow belly]

DEFRA ignored those of us on the hedgerow pilot when we told them tagging trees was a nonsense especially when they hadn’t decided on the definition of a tree.
Do they still require tagging? Have ther decided what a tree is? I have hedges 20ft tall! Is this a hedge or a linear wood?
Haven’t looked since I am looking forward to being RPA free as soon as the pilot ends.
SFI remains Simply Financially Inadequate here.

they have defined trees by size and you only have to lable saplings or new trees

 

[Vader]

not sure exactly but i had a whole farm with no hedges on their system under greening

under a hedge row check this year they told we i had less than i applied for on thier system and that their system had a better more accurate data
i looked and found they had remapped and their data was near spot on
thy just had not taken into account that where there are wide grass verges i have controll of both sides of roadside hedges so can claim double the length

Sfi 24 map still shows hedges wrong here...

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Sfi 24 map still shows hedges wrong here...

And here.
Can you claim on the bits that they've missed out?
Got sections of various hedges missing on the maps, despite being clearly visible on satellite pics.