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23 Apr 2009, 5:13 PM alauda26 Joined on 10 Jan 2006 Oxfordshire Posts 81 Grassland for breeding waders or target features? Am currently unclear as to the correct use of a couple of HLS options - and opinion seems to vary according to who is asked! The 'wet grassland for breeding waders' HLS options HK9, HK11 and HK13 are obviously the best suited to sites that are already or have clear potential to support breeding waders such as lapwing, curlew etc.  However, some NE advisors appear to prefer to use the 'grassland for target features' HLS options HK15-17, even though the latter has little clear reference to waders (just ground-nesting farmland birds), albeit the scope to tailor the pescription of these options is particularly wide. Obviously the client will prefer the breeding wader options, as they pay better!  There is some text in the HLS handbook (part C) that says these options 'will be almost entirely located in the lowland river valleys, in areas where surface water can be controlled.'  However, it does not specifically exclude non-coastal and non-river floodplain areas. How much discretion comes into this by NE, or is there more detailed guidance that is available?  What are other people's experiences here? Thanks.      Report

28 Apr 2009, 10:49 AM Bad Frank Joined on 29 Oct 2008 Posts 1 Re: Grassland for breeding waders or target features? Hi there,   For breeding waders the question is, are you aiming to manage the grassland sward structure through grazing and/or cutting (HK15-17) or are looking to Influence/manage/maintain water levels as well (HK9/HK11/HK13), in order to create/restore/maintain WET grassland?   I think the key is whether it is wet inundation grassland or not (floodplain, coastal or otherwise), and is really about the correct identification of the habitat or the potential for that habitat. The higher payment for HK9, HK11, HK13 represents the increased management of wet grassland and the “income for gone” in carrying this out.     Hope this helps.    Report

06 May 2009, 4:20 PM John Joined on 13 Nov 2007 Posts 9 Re: Grassland for breeding waders or target features?   The £200 odd differential in the payment rate suggests that there should be a very clear-cut difference in the management expectations of these two options, but in truth, this is often not the case. I’ve seen the wet grassland options used on riverside fields where the only wetting management has been the odd scrape or blocked ditch - probably no more than might be expected through a raised water supplement within the HK15-17 options where the target feature is waders. Think there is room for some confusion between these options, and the guidance could be a little clearer/more specific.      Report

28 May 2009, 4:29 PM Gallinago Joined on 15 Dec 2008 Posts 15 Re: Grassland for breeding waders or target features? My own personal thoughts are that too many sites that will not get waders, because there are none in the area or the field is unsuitable (e.g. too enclosed), or cannot achieve habitat targets are put into the scheme in the breeding wader options. Where there is a site with breeding waders, the field is suitable, sward condition can be achieved through grazing (not cutting only) and water can be managed (i.e. the field will actually be wetted up), this should be able to go straight into a breeding wader option. My only experience is in river valleys, but if there is a site on a non-floodplain area where water can be managed and conditions achieved I would advocate using the option that will provide the most scope for creating the right conditions. In areas where there are not breeding waders but wet grassland habitat can be created, NE may be reluctant to go straight for the breeding wader option. This is because the indicators of success (i.e. getting waders back onto the site) may not be realised. In these instances they may go for the wintering wader option, with a view to assessing the site after a certain number of years (typically three years) and then upgrading to breeding wader options. I personally feel this approach (and I do not especially like it) should only be used on sites where there is a likelihood of waders coming back. For fields where wetting up cannot be acheived for whatever reason, but management can be tailored for e.g. curlew, then the target feature option should be employed.    Report

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