BN7: Gapping Up

[johndeere6r]

Hi

I have lots of hedgerows with 2/3m gaps in - can I apply for BN7 on these 2/3m gaps or do you have to apply for 20m min? The total length in each field parcel will be well over the 20m min.

TIA

 

[PeterPrestbury]

This is the BN7 guidance:

BN7: Hedgerow gapping-up

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the hedgerow gapping-up item.

www.gov.uk

My interpretation is that, provided the overall length of the resulting hedge is at least 20m and the gap between woody stems is less than 5m, you can claim.

In any case, apply for the total length of hedge and then just claim for the lengths that you do.

 

[farmerm]

What does it mean when it says funding per unit per year £100, what’s a unit?

How quick are they agreeing these stand alone applications? I could do with some funds for gapping up and hedgerow trees.

 

[PeterPrestbury]

I don't think it matters to agreement holders, it is just a banding that RPA have for the various options.
If you click on the link in the option prescription, it will take you to a webpage where on the left hand filters, you can select payment bandings.

From recent experience, the RPA seem to be taking about 2 months to process capital grant applications and also about 2 months to process payment claims
(both are some way away from their target times!)

 

[Ffermer Bach]

better for the wildlife to have a few gaps by the way. Some insects prefer gaps, rather than having to fly up over the hedge.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

better for the wildlife to have a few gaps by the way. Some insects prefer gaps, rather than having to fly up over the hedge.

Hedgerow trees will always produce gaps.
The prescriptive nature of there schemes create winners and losers. It would mainly seem that due to the RSPB heavily influencing them, birds win at the expense of anything else.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Hedgerow trees will always produce gaps.
The prescriptive nature of there schemes create winners and losers. It would mainly seem that due to the RSPB heavily influencing them, birds win at the expense of anything else.

personally I like to see a hedge with no gaps, but that is because I tend to have a tidy mind. I realise that gaps are good for the environment, as are dead trees, so have left quite a few Ash to die upright.

 

[farmerm]

better for the wildlife to have a few gaps by the way. Some insects prefer gaps, rather than having to fly up over the hedge.

A few gaps is fine but a thin whisp of a hedge with sparse half head plants is good for little