Question reference: S6W-00810
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 16 June 2021
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 July 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial assistance is available to farmers and landowners who wish to preserve and increase the existing stock of grey partridge on their land.
Answer
Although the Scottish Government’s Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) does not have any options specifically for grey partridge, it does provide funding for options that benefit the habitats of grey partridge, namely:
- Beetlebanks,
- Creation of Hedgerows,
- Management or restoration of existing hedgerows,
- Forage Brassica Crops for Farmland Birds,
- Grass Strips in Arable Fields
- Retention of Winter Stubble for Wildlife and Water Quality
- Species Rich Grassland Creation and Management
- Species Rich Grassland Management only
- Stubbles followed by Green Manure in an Arable Rotation
- Unharvested Conservation Headlands for Wildlife
- Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds
The Scottish Government has committed to spending £66.16m towards these options from 2016 through to 2025. 1,838 businesses have these options in their AECS contracts, with over 29,000 Ha due to be managed throughout Scotland in 2021.
Further information about the scheme and how to apply can be found at Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (ruralpayments.org)