
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 and come into force on 1st February 2009.
2 
The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 5.
3 
In Schedule 1 (interpretation of schedules) in the definition of “rural settlement”–
(a) for “Classification” substitute “Classifications”; and
(b) after “2003–2004” insert “, 2005–2006 or Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification 2007–2008.”
4 
In Schedule 2 (rural priorities options), Part 1 (option, activities and eligibility conditions and rates of payment)–
(a) in rural priorities option numbered 7 (establishment of short rotation coppice crops of willow or poplar) in column 3–
(i) after “50%” insert “of eligible actual costs”;
(ii) after “(Less Favoured Area)” insert “including the cost of fencing (for both non Less Favoured Areas and Less Favoured Areas)”; and
(iii) for “cost of £1540” substitute “payment of £1000”;
(b) in rural priorities option numbered 16 (wild bird seed mix/unharvested crop) in column 2, in paragraph (2)(b) before “sows a mixture” insert “spring”;
(c) in rural priorities option numbered 60 (woodland creation) in column 3, after the first entry insert “Payment rates for additional fencing capital items are 70% of the standard cost shown for fencing related items in Table D in Part 2 of this Schedule”;
(d) in rural priorities option numbered 62 (woodland improvement grants) in column 3, for “70%” substitute “100%”;
(e) in rural priorities option numbered 67 (area access management and monitoring, and creation and upgrading of paths and routes) in column 3, omit “, up to a maximum of £500 per item”;
(f) in rural priorities option numbered 70 (active management to improve the condition of vernacular rural buildings, archaeological or historic sites and historic landscapes) in column 3, omit “annual”.
5 
In Schedule 2 (rural priorities options) in Part 2 for Table D (woodland improvement grants option) substitute–“

Table D – Standard Costs For Forestry Operations/ Capital Items
Column 1 Column 2
Item Standard Cost
Fell/extract dangerous trees £200 per tree
Manual brashing £0.35 per tree
High pruning £1.30 per tree
Badger gates installed in fence lines which are cutting across an established badger run £110 per gate
Respace natural regeneration £500 per hectare
Early pruning of trees £250 per hectare
High pruning of trees £400 per hectare
Pre commercial and non commercial woodland thinning £150 per hectare
Removal of tree crop to waste 3 – 6 metres high £750 per hectare
Woodland clearance benefiting raised bog/blanket bog felling of waste £975 per hectare
Woodland clearance benefiting raised bog/blanket bog – felling and extraction £1375 per hectare
Seedling tree removal £35 per hectare
Small scale woodland thinning £300 per hectare
Chipping/mulching of tree debris and brash £500 per hectare
Restructuring with Caledonian Scots pine £448 per hectare
Restructuring with diverse conifers £448 per hectare
Restructuring with mixed broadleaves £1,002 per hectare
Restructuring with native broadleaves £1,099 per hectare
Woodland deer impact reduction £30 per hectare for deer control during the first 5 years of a Deer Management Plan
Forest plan preparation £20 per hectare for first 200 hectares, £5 per hectare thereafter with a minimum payment of £400 and a maximum payment of £15,000
Dead wood management £40 per hectare
Stock fence £4 per metre
Enhancing/modifying a stock fence in black grouse and capercaillie core areas £2 per metre
Upgrading stock to deer fence £2.75 per metre
Scare or temporary fencing £1.50 per metre
Rabbit proofing – existing or new stock/deer fence £1.90 per metre
Enhancing/modifying a deer fence in black grouse and capercaillie core areas £5 per metre
Conversion of deer fence to stock fence in black grouse and capercaille core areas £2 per metre
Fence removal £2 per metre
Gate for stock fence £100 each
Gate for deer fence £170 each
Ditch/drain blocking with plastic piling dams:Small ditches (up to 0.5 metres wide and deep) £60 per dam
Ditch/drain blocking with plastic piling dams:Medium ditches (between 0.5 and 1 metre wide and deep) £120 per dam
Ditch/drain blocking with plastic piling dams:Large ditches (between 1 and 2 metres wide and 0.5 and 1 metre deep) £280 per dam
Peat dam £0.26 per metre of drain or furrow blocked with peat dams. Minimum payment £300
Small scale tree and shrub planting (on a site not exceeding 0.25 hectares) £2 per tree or shrub
Heather restoration (in Black Grouse core areas) £250 per hectare
Provision of bat and bird boxes £15 per box.”.
RICHARD LOCHHEAD
A member of the Scottish Executive
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
8th January 2009