Management Plan Template for Grouse Moor Estates/SSSI

(Developed by English Nature in discussion with the Moorland Association)

Executive Summary

Purpose

• A draft management plan for a Wildlife Enhancement Scheme between English Nature and a grouse moor owner/manager (N.B. the WES is a permission under S.28e of the Wildlife and Countryside Act)
• May be used as a stand-alone, time-limited consent under the Act, with accompanying maps
• May form the basis of a Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Agreement (HLS)

Background & Approach

English Nature:

• Acknowledges the contribution of grouse shooting over the last 150 years to the conservation of heather moorland and a range of nationally and internationally important species.
• Believes hill farming can help maintain and enhance moorland and enable farmers to supply good quality products.
• Recognises the wider environment, social and economic importance of moorlands for water catchment, carbon store, flood prevention, recreational and tourism etc.

Management of grouse moors through sensitive burning, bracken management and low intensity grazing can:

• Create a mosaic of habitats important for nature conservation
• Provide nesting and feeding grounds for a range of native bird species
• Encourage and maintain a harvestable grouse population
• Provide important grazing for domestic stock

English Nature (EN) recognises the significant contribution made by moorland gamekeepers and farmers to integrated moorland management including the achievement of Govt. wildlife targets on grouse moors EN and the Moorland Association (MA) agree the overall purpose in seeking agreed plans between EN & individual moor managers is to build on these principles to set out management which will deliver:

• Favourable condition of the SSSI covered by the plan
• Ongoing effective and sustainable driven grouse moor

The intention:

• To seek agreed management under a WES, HLS or time-limited consent generally for 5 years
• For EN and estate staff to work together to collect information for future reviews

For the SSSI, conservation objectives are based on Common Standards Guidance as to "favourable condition" for the designated features. The conservation aim will be to maintain or achieve recovery to favourable condition, but other specific enhancements may be discussed and pursued subject to the land manger's interest. Changes would be discussed with the land manager and relevant amendments made during an agreement or at the start of a new one.

Moorland Assessment:

The criteria for assessing the condition of heather moorland has been standardised for consistency A number of types of ground, sensitive or likely to be damaged by burning have been identified - some may include ground which it is important for the manager to be able to burn. In a number of cases burning could be carried out whilst avoiding damage to the sensitive features To address conservation and wider land management objectives in areas defined as "sensitive" a presumption against burning will be made. But where carefully managed burning is important for grouse moor management reasons and it is agreed it can be carried out without causing damage, consent will be given.

A management plan will be developed through discussion to:

• Raise awareness of issues on both sides
• Develop a greater understanding on both parties' interests

Regular reviews will take place.

An agreed plan may involve modification to the moorland management previously undertaken. Discussion between EN and the MA has considered this impact and a plan will reflect the transition taking into account the impact on grouse moor and agricultural management.

Read on or download an example of a Management Plan Agreement (174kb word doc)