Management of the natural Environment Level 1

Question 1

Explain landscape and designations you are aware of.

Answer 1

AONBS (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty):
* Their primary purpose is to conserve natural beauty – wildlife, cultural heritage, landscape, scenery, agriculture/forestry, local communities and economy etc.
* Designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and amended in the Environment Act 1995.
* The procedure and purpose of designating AONBs is set out in The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW act)
* NE are responsible for formally designating AONBs and advising on policies for their protection. They are also the ‘watchdog’ ensuring successful conservation.

SSSIs (Site of Special Scientific Interest)
* These sites provide statutory protection for the best examples of the UKs flora, fauna or geographical features.
* The SSSI designation can also underpin other landscape designations.
* Originally notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and were re-notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
* The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW act) brought in improved provisions for the protection and management of SSSIs.
* There are things you can’t do without Natural Englands consent but these depend on the individual SSSI.
* You’ll need to request permission from NE in writing if you intend to carry out a listed activity.
* Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 you could get an unlimited fine if you carry out (or permit someone else to carry out) a controlled activity on an SSSI.
* You would also have to pay to repair any damage caused to the site.

National Parks
* Its purpose is to conserve and enhance landscapes whilst promoting public enjoyment and the social and economic wellbeing of its communities.
* Designated by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The Environment Act 1995 now requires relevant authorities to also have regard for nature conservation.
* Likely to also by the LPA due to Article 4 Direction (Under Section 4 of the Town and Planning Act 1990)

Question 2

Tell me about agri-environmental schemes you are familiar with.

Answer 2

SFI Sustainable Farming incentive : The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme rewards farmers in England for carrying out actions that benefit the environment. Able to apply for a list of actions and be paid for that

Integrated pest management (IPM): Farmers can receive payments for IPM, including organic farmers. One IPM action, IPM1, involves a BASIS qualified adviser assessing a farmer’s current pest, weed, and disease management approach.

Hedgerows: Farmers can establish new hedgerow trees by selecting existing saplings or planting new ones. When doing this, farmers should try to plant or select a mix of different species to support a wider variety of wildlife.

No tillage farming: This is a new action in the 2024 SFI offer.

Precision farming: This is a new action in the 2024 SFI offer.

Spring-sown or summer-sown cover crops: This is a new action in the 2024 SFI offer.

Grassy field corners and blocks: This action is capped to 25% of land.
Improved grassland field corners or blocks out of management: This action is capped to 25% of land.
Winter bird food on improved grassland: This action is capped to 25% of land

Question 3

What bodies are charged with bringing in and delivering such legislation?

Answer 3

DEFRA & the RPA (executive agency)

Question 4

What is an NVZ? And what is its impact

Answer 4

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) are areas designated as being at risk from agricultural nitrate pollution. They include about 55% of land in England.

Limits on when where or how much Nitrogen to apply. rules on record keeping etc

Question 5

what is a SSSI and what are its implications.

Answer 5

A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a formal conservation designation. Usually, it describes an area that’s of particular interest to science due to the rare species of fauna or flora it contains - or even important geological or physiological features that may lie in its boundaries.

There are certain things you cannot do on SSSI land without consulting Natural England and getting consent first. For example, you might want to change the way you manage woodland or change a grazing regime.

Each SSSI has a list of activities, known as ‘operations’, which need Natural England’s consent.

Question 6

How can you identify their existence

Answer 6

Magic Maps.

Question 7

How can you check flood risk?

Answer 7

The UK Environment Agency classifies flood risk zones based on the likelihood of flooding from rivers or the sea. The zones are:
Zone 1: The lowest risk, with a less than 0.1% annual probability of flooding
Zone 2: Medium risk, with a 1% chance from rivers or 0.5% from the sea
Zone 3: The highest risk, with a 1% or higher chance from rivers or 0.5% from the sea
You can check your flood risk in the UK using a variety of methods, including:
Environment Agency maps: These maps show the potential extent of flooding and the flood zone an area is in

Question 8

How do these impact upon your client advice?

Answer 8

As the Environment Agency my client are normally aware of flood risk.

Question 9

How can you check soil type for agricultural land?

Answer 9

Feel test
A soil’s type can be determined by feeling it and how it responds to handling:
Sand: Feels gritty and the grains don’t stick together when squeezed
Silt: Feels smooth and silky like talcum powder, but isn’t sticky
Loam: Feels velvety or flour-like when dry and forms a weak ball shape when wet which crumbles apart when dry
Clay: Has a smearing quality, and is sticky when we

or soil scapes

Question 10

what types of soil are there

Answer 10

clay soil
sandy soil
peat
silt
chalky
loamy

Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) system
Classifications Grade 1: High-yielding land with little to no limitations for agricultural use
Grade 2: Very good quality land
Grade 3: Good to moderate quality land, with subgrade 3a being good and subgrade 3b being moderate
Grade 4: Poor quality land
Grade 5: Very poor quality land

Question 11

How does this affect use of the land?

Answer 11

soil type can affect yield, drainage and susceptibility to compact etc, which can affect yield and limit agricultural use

Question 12

Explain the current Government payment scheme relating to the natural environment.

Answer 12

The UK government offers several payment schemes to help improve the natural environment, including:
Countryside Stewardship (CS)
Provides financial incentives to farmers, foresters, and land managers to improve and protect the environment. CS focuses on specific locations, features, and habitats, such as wetlands, woodlands, and heathland.
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
Pays farmers to adopt and maintain sustainable farming practices that protect and enhance the environment.
Landscape Recovery
Pays for larger-scale, longer-term projects to enhance the natural environment, such as the creation of large-scale forests and woodland restoration

Question 13

What is an AONB?

Answer 13

AONB stands for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These areas are protected in England and Wales for their significant landscape value. The primary purpose of AONBs is to conserve and enhance their natural beauty

Also known as national landscapes as of NOV 2023

Question 14

Explain the Dutch Nitrogen case and impact on the management of the natural environment.

Answer 14

The Dutch Nitrogen case, also known as the Dutch-N case, was a court ruling that forced the Netherlands to address its high nitrogen emissions. The ruling was the result of a challenge by an environmental NGO to the Netherlands’ system for protecting Natura 2000 areas from nitrogen pollution. The court found that the Dutch legislation was too lax.
The case led to a reassessment of how the EU interprets pollution-related legislation, particularly for nitrogen and phosphorus emissions. The ruling established that when an internationally important site is failing to meet its required conditions due to nutrient pollution, the potential for new development to add to the nutrient load is limited.
The Netherlands has been dealing with excessive nitrogen deposition for many years, which is harmful to nature and public health. The country has the second highest nitrogen balance in Europe. The government’s plan to address the crisis includes: Cutting the national livestock herd by a third over eight years, Buying out farmers, Relocating farms near vulnerable natural areas, and Making farms more sustainable.

Question 15

what was Wyatt v Fareham BC (2021)?

Answer 15

Wyatt v Fareham Borough Council was a case in which the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal against a 2021 High Court judgment that upheld a planning permission granted by Fareham Borough Council. The case concerned a challenge to the council’s decision to grant planning permission for eight homes in the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA).

Nutrient neutrality
The residents claimed that the council’s decision did not comply with the Habitats Regulations and did not sufficiently protect wildlife sites. The case also concerned the correct approach to applying Natural England’s 2018 advice on Nutrient Neutrality

Question 16

What is the role of the Habitats Regulation Assessment group set up by DEFRA?

Answer 16

The Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) is a legally binding process that assesses whether a development plan or project could harm a European site. The HRA is required for projects that could significantly impact European sites, such as Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), and Ramsar sites.

Question 17

What is a RAMSAR site

Answer 17

A Ramsar site is a wetland that has been designated as a protected area under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that aims to conserve wetlands through international cooperation, local and national action

Question 18

Explain the Hedgerow Regulations 1997

Answer 18

The Hedgerows Regulations 1997 are a set of regulations that protect hedgerows in the countryside and urban areas by requiring notification before any work is carried out. The regulations came into force on June 1, 1997 under Section 97 of the Environment Act 1995.
The regulations require that owners of rural hedgerows give their local planning authority 42 days written notice if they intend to remove all or part of a hedgerow. There are some exemptions, such as hedges that form the boundary of a dwelling.
The regulations allow the planning authority to protect “important” hedgerows by controlling their removal. If the authority decides to prohibit the removal of an important hedgerow, they must notify the owner within six weeks. The owner has the right to appeal against this decision

Question 19

Explain my understanding of bird nesting seasons.

Answer 19

In the United Kingdom, bird nesting season is generally considered to be from February to August, with the busiest period being from March 1 to July 31. However, the exact timing can vary depending on the weather and the species of bird. The Wildlife and Countryside Act (WCA) of 1981 makes it illegal to:
Intentionally kill, injure, or take a wild bird
Intentionally or recklessly disturb a wild bird while it is building a nest or is in, on, or near a nest

Question 20

Explain the Weeds Act 1959 to me.

Answer 20

The Weeds Act 1959 is a UK law that controls the spread of certain weeds that are considered harmful to agriculture. The Act:
Identifies harmful weeds
The Act specifies five weeds that are subject to control: common ragwort, spear thistle, creeping thistle, curled dock, and broad-leaved dock
Gives the government the power to act
The Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs can issue a notice to the occupier of land if they believe harmful weeds are growing there
Requires the occupier to take action
The occupier must take action to prevent the spread of the weeds within the time specified in the notice
Penalizes non-compliance
If the occupier fails to comply with the notice, they may be fined
Allows the government to recover costs
The government can recover costs from the occupier or landowner if necessar

Question 21

What do you understand by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 / Wildlife and coutryside Act 1981

Answer 21

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are both UK laws that protect the environment and wildlife:
Environmental Protection Act 1990
This act outlines the responsibilities of individuals and businesses to protect the environment. It also establishes the framework for waste management and emission control in England, Wales, and Scotland. The act includes:
Waste management: Requires businesses to have a waste management license
Litter: Requires landowners and occupiers to keep their land free of litter, and local authorities to keep public highways clean
National waste strategies: Establishes national waste strategies for England, Wales, and Scotland
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
This act is the primary legislation for protecting wildlife in Great Britain. It includes:
Wild bird protection: Protects wild birds, their nests, and eggs
Areas of special protection: Provides for offenses against wild birds, including killing, injuring, or taking them, or damaging their nests or eggs
Necessary actions: Provides for offenses against wild birds that are necessary to preserve public health or safety, or to prevent the spread of diseas

Question 22

what is cross compliance in agriculture uk

Answer 22

Cross compliance in the UK is a set of rules that farmers and land managers must follow to receive full payments from agricultural schemes. These rules include:
Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs): Farmers must comply with existing EU legislation and directives.
Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC): Farmers must keep their land in good condition.
Protecting boundary features: Farmers must protect hedgerows, stone walls, earth banks, and stone banks.
Protecting public rights of way: Farmers must keep public footpaths, bridleways, and byways open and accessible.
Protecting trees: Farmers must check if trees have a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) and follow any conditions.
Protecting Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs): Farmers must not damage or destroy SSSIs.
Protecting watercourses: Farmers must protect watercourses from pollution and run-off.

Question 23

Tell me about biodiversity offsetting.

Answer 23

Biodiversity offsetting is a market-based method that aims to compensate for the loss of biodiversity caused by development projects. It involves creating new nature sites to make up for the damage done to nature by development projects that can’t be avoided or mitigated.

Question 24

What is the role of Natural England?

Answer 24

Natural England’s role is to help protect, manage, and enhance the natural environment in England for the benefit of current and future generations. Natural England is the government’s advisor on the natural environment and is sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

Some of Natural England’s roles include:
Providing scientific advice: Natural England provides scientific advice to the government, local authorities, and developers to help them design and build sustainable communities.
Statutory consultee: Natural England is a statutory consultee in the land use planning system.
Statutory consultation body: Natural England is a statutory consultation body on environmental assessment.
Regulatory body: Natural England is a regulatory body for protected species licensing.
Enforcement undertakings: Natural England allows offenders to restore and remedy any environmental damage they have caused.
Green exercise projects: Natural England has funded green exercise projects to increase physical activity and people’s connection to green spaces

Question 25

What legislation governs biodiversity net-gain?

Answer 25

The Environment Act 2021
This act introduced the BNG requirement, which requires qualifying development sites to increase their biodiversity value by at least 10%.

The Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Schedule 7A of this act, as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021, makes BNG mandatory in England.
The Biodiversity Gain Site Register Regulations 2024
These regulations include the right to appeal against the rejection of an application, amendment of the register, or removal of an entry from the register

Question 26

What are ELMS?

Answer 26

Environmental land management schemes , public money for public goods

Question 27

What are the current SFI standards?

Answer 27

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has a number of standards, including:
Soil health: SFI standards include arable and horticultural soils, and improved grassland soils

Moorland: SFI standards include moorland

Other standards: SFI standards include hedgerows, water body buffering, and low and no input grassland

however it replaced these in 2022 for a pick and mix approach

Question 28

What do you understand by ‘public money for public goods’?

Answer 28

Public money for public goods refers to the use of government funds to provide things that are beneficial to the public as a whole, but are not typically provided by markets. BPS>ELMS Payments for water quality, soil health etc.