Ditch cleaning.

[Jellyfarm]

I thought I understood ditching was date regulated(as hedge cutting). Is this right and if so which GAEC is it (if any) and can you point me in the right direction for regulation, please?
TIA
J

 

[steveR]

Interesting to see reponsed to this one...

I have a length of ditch to clean on the opposite side of the hedge to my barley stubble. I had not even thought about your point, but was more worried at the neighbours insistence that I remove all the material from the field and tip it away from he ditch as they grow turf on the land. I did point out thet regs require spoil to be left on the bank which got him rather cross!

So a bit of a quandary, as the ditch is mine, but access is on his land... So who gets penanlised for a breach...

 

[Brisel]

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764890/Cross_Compliance_2019_rules_v1.0.pdf

No mention of ditch cleaning in the Cross Compliance guide linked above, but you can't put the spoil within 2m of the centre under GAEC 7a Boundaries.

 

[Jellyfarm]

Thanks Brisel.
I have found advice in EA publications that indicate months broadly in line with hedge-cutting.
J

 

[Hesston4860s]

Thanks Brisel.
I have found advice in EA publications that indicate months broadly in line with hedge-cutting.
J

Be interested to read that as generally we go all year round !.

 

[Jellyfarm]

If you search EA ditch maintenance most county councils have docs referring to 'best practice' etc etc and often mentioning avoiding nesting and breeding seasons. Although flood prevention is usually noted first and therefore that is the reason we do ditching!
J

 

[Badshot]

Thanks Brisel.
I have found advice in EA publications that indicate months broadly in line with hedge-cutting.
J

The ea publications are guidance only, you're not going to get a fine for doing it.
They've been weed cutting the royal military canal for a few weeks now.
Using boats with cutters and loaders on.
The idb will be doing similar with a 360, they start as soon as enough crops are cut .

 

[Brisel]

The IDBs start sooner than that where the farmers have field margins. I'd assumed we'd be able to hide behind them if we got inspected and pulled up on using the CS margins for access - "we can't stop them getting to their own drains"

 

[Badshot]

The IDBs start sooner than that where the farmers have field margins. I'd assumed we'd be able to hide behind them if we got inspected and pulled up on using the CS margins for access - "we can't stop them getting to their own drains"

Correct.
They're also allowed to put the weed on the compliance margin.
This got tested years ago when RPA inspectors got excited and tried fining people for what the idb done.

 

[Brisel]

Correct.
They're also allowed to put the weed on the compliance margin.
This got tested years ago when RPA inspectors got excited and tried fining people for what the idb done.

Thanks for that - I didn't know that had been tested. I was never able to clarify where the IDB ended & we started.

 

[Jellyfarm]

I think main river and brooks classified as river for maintenance(reed cutting purposes) use the flood risk reason for going 'out of season'. Our local brook and river are reed cut rather than farmers ditch clean which tend to scrape soil etc.

 

[Surgery]

Just to crash in what rules apply using a small 360 digging a road side ditch off the highway?