How long does NE have to catch you?

[PhilipB]

If one were to, for instance, plough up a field of uncultivated grassland, and turn it into an arable monoculture, how many years has Natural England got before they can't come after you for not having got clearance?

 

[organicguy]

Just asking for a friend?

 

[PhilipB]

Just asking for a friend?

Yes, of course.

 

[Tarw Coch]

If one were to, for instance, plough up a field of uncultivated grassland, and turn it into an arable monoculture, how many years has Natural England got before they can't come after you for not having got clearance?

Define uncultivated.

Are you aware of the conditions under which you can or can’t plough up long term grassland?
The reality is a lot of long term grassland can be ploughed without being in breach of any regulations

 

[yellow belly]

check the definition of cultivated

lime and fertiliser use are defined as cultivation in the rules

 

[ajcc]

2 years after the date of the alleged offence...but it is not that straightforward!!

 

[Tarw Coch]

check the definition of cultivated

lime and fertiliser use are defined as cultivation in the rules

Don’t quote me on this but chain harrowing and rolling might be too

 

[neilo]

Don’t quote me on this but chain harrowing and rolling might be too

I believe so. The problem comes when you’ve been in a scheme that prohibits all such actions for over ten years, after which time it can be classed as ‘habitat’.

That’s the reason I’ve always taken lower paid options with ‘restricted’ inputs, rather than ‘no’ inputs.

 

[tullah]

If NE care to look forward to next years food production then they should be paying a subsidy to farmers to bring land back into production now. No fertiliser worldwide only means one thing. Still don't get it why futures havent gone off the scale.

 

[Bury the Trash]

if they say anything Tell them its to grow vegetables for vegetarians .

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

If NE care to look forward to next years food production then they should be paying a subsidy to farmers to bring land back into production now. No fertiliser worldwide only means one thing. Still don't get it why futures havent gone off the scale.

But that would be using common sense and they're not paid for that

 

[7610 super q]

I'm afraid you will have to change your name and identity, move to a remote location in Papua New Guinea and listen to Fleetwood Mac from dawn till dusk.
At least you can console yourself that you ended your former life as a proper farmer, and didn't make a fool of yourself no tilling a cover crop on the ground or some sh!t like that.......

 

[PhilipB]

Define uncultivated.

Are you aware of the conditions under which you can or can’t plough up long term grassland?
The reality is a lot of long term grassland can be ploughed without

Ok, i see that the grassland example doesn't really give a fair impression of the friend's case.

Suppose it was a something that could have been proved to have been there before, and had now vanished, a small wood, a length of hedge and a pond. For arguements sake.

If it's been gone for two years, is that ok?

 

[Courier]

I believe so. The problem comes when you’ve been in a scheme that prohibits all such actions for over ten years, after which time it can be classed as ‘habitat’.

That’s the reason I’ve always taken lower paid options with ‘restricted’ inputs, rather than ‘no’ inputs.

So I have some 15 year old Miscanthus which we cut annually in March/April for biomass - should that be classed as “habitat” and if so what value can be attributed to that??

 

[Al R]

Don’t quote me on this but chain harrowing and rolling might be too

Not all, I have a few hundred acres under “habitat” on equivalent of HLS and I can Harrow it over the winter, can’t top until July 15th unless patch topping thistles etc…

 

[Tarw Coch]

Ok, i see that the grassland example doesn't really give a fair impression of the friend's case.

Suppose it was a something that could have been proved to have been there before, and had now vanished, a small wood, a length of hedge and a pond. For arguements sake.

If it's been gone for two years, is that ok?

You’re moving the goal posts now, I haven’t a clue in those sort of instances but I do know of a small wood/copse that was chopped down and a wind turbine sited there and nothing ever came of it, I guess in such instances it’s more about if you’re lucky/unlucky wether you get caught or not and I suspect that luck will depend on wether anyone reports you to the relevant authorities or not.