Hundreds of graziers in Wales are being urged to stake their claim in the £5 million plus annual pot available to support the management and grazing of common land.
Missing the April 28 deadline could lose graziers “double benefits” on offer in 2012 when the new payments scheme will operate alongside the Tir Mynydd scheme it replaces.
Rural regeneration agencies Cadwyn Clwyd, PLANED and Menter Mon have a total of 18 Commons Development Officers (CDOs) on hand – all from farming or land management backgrounds – whose sole job it is to advise and guide those with eligible grazing rights on common land to tap into the scheme.
The key is to set up or re-constitute existing grazier associations who will administer the new Glastir common land scheme in contract with Welsh Assembly Government. In return for the money graziers have to abide by a Commons Code and choose one of two options: withdraw stock from commons grazing for 90 days in the winter (November to March) or agree a minimum and maximum grazing density.
April 28 is simply a deadline for showing an “expression of interest” it does not commit anyone to anything, but sets in motion help from the CDOs and importantly it does not change rights or mean anyone loses any rights over their commons grazing.
By registering now, graziers could be eligible for Glastir and Tir Mynydd payments in 2012, but registering after April 28 would mean entering the scheme later and qualifying only for Glastir in 2013.
Basically Glastir – Welsh for Green land – starts in January 2012 and replaces existing agri-environmental schemes such as Tir Gofal and Tir Mynydd and is designed to reflect Welsh Assembly Government’s new environmental commitments to take account of European Union demands.
The Common Land Element of Glastir is designed to be a specific and simple way of supporting maintenance of common land.
In Wales there are about 1,500 registered commons – not all with grazing on them – covering about 175,000 hectares (45% of it in National Parks).
CDO supervisor for Cadwyn Clwyd is Dan Delaney and his team is covering Powys, Newport, Monmouthshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.
“There is a raft of different Glastir schemes, but the Commons Land Element is a stand-alone scheme and you don’t have to apply for other parts of the scheme to be eligible. The Grazing Association for each common is key to an application and is both the receiver of the money and the administrator of the scheme.
“If you are a commons grazier and you want to be in the scheme, April 28 is a very important deadline,” he said. If you want access to more grants for the higher levels of the scheme for specific projects, the so-called Targeted Element, you have to be within the CLE scheme – making registration even more desirable.
“The Common Land Element operates with completely separate rules from other parts of the scheme, you don’t have to score points or turn land into agriculture buffer zones for example.
“It simply presents grazier associations with two simple management options. But if you do not register an expression of interest by April 28 you will not proceed this year.”
The whole of Wales has been divided between the three agencies and work has gone well in contacting associations and individual graziers. “We contact the associations or individuals and give them guidance on how to arrange the associations and make it work,” said Daniel.
The 18 CDOs will be employed for two years to work with existing members of grazing associations to assist with entry into the common land element of Glastir..
Daniel added: “I have been to between 20-30 meetings and associations range from very active and organised, going back to the 50’s and 60’s, and others who may not have met for many years.”
Associations will be responsible for maintaining and administering grazing on the common for which they receive payment of £33.60 per hectare for eligible common land within Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) with £5.60 for admin and legal costs, and £28 per hectare outside LFA’s.
The associations can administer the grant payments to members or they can provide WAG with a breakdown of who should be paid and how much.
In some areas, such as the Black Mountains, there are commons where around 800 properties (property not people inherit common grazing rights) have rights and some where there are just 10-15. Those who take part need to show they are “active” graziers.
Daniel explained: “One of our roles is to unravel the matrix of common grazing rights. We have contacted 85-90% of all eligible commons in our area. Any associations or groups who want to go ahead I am sure in the vast majority of circumstances we can get them through the process.”
CDO supervisor for PLANED is Steven Bradley, whose team covers South and West Wales. .
“We have had a good level of interest from existing associations and some embryonic groups. We have sent out promotional literature to livestock markets, farmer coops and vets, anywhere where farmers may gather.
“We are aware that graziers have many concerns and working with your local CDO, many can be got round,” said Steven: “For example if an association has a problem with illegal grazing and cannot guarantee to get stock off for the stock exclusion option we would advise the Grazing Association to choose the stocking density option to take account of illegal grazing.
“Not every common will be eligible and where the area is less than three hectares for example, a common could combine with another CL in order to meet the three hectares minimum rule.”
“We want grazing associations or a lead grazier (where no grazing association exists at the moment) to submit an expression of interest and there is no obligation to go through to a full application. “We will be employed for two years and there will be another application window next year.”
Once an expression of interest has been registered an application pack will be sent out in June to be returned by July 31. An association does not have to be in operation until late Autumn.
CDO supervisor for Menter Mon is Robin Griffiths, whose team cover the Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy and Ceredigion areas.
“The take-up has been quite good and people seem keen and why not? It’s the only agri-environmental money that will be available to commoners. You just have to enter into the all-Wales commons code and select one of the two options.
“It’s quite a simple scheme with the money basically replacing the money they have been getting under the Tir Mynydd scheme.
“If they can get themselves organised, form an association and get an expression of interest in before the April 28 deadline they can get Glastir payments in 2012 in addition to Tir Mynydd payments but if they miss the deadline for this April they will get only Glastir in 2013.
“They should get in touch with our team at least to discuss the possibilities of going into the scheme this year,” said Robin.
Single occupancy commons may be eligible for entry into the scheme as it may be possible for them to enter Glastir jointly with another common, although they may also have the option of entering their land in the All Wales Element of Glastir.
“We have been employed to talk specifically to farmers to get them into schemes and we want to get as many as possible. We want to encourage all commoners to get in touch with us, to see if they can join the scheme,” said Robin.
Graziers interested in expressing an interest in the Glastir scheme can contact Daniel Delaney on 07825 136592 [email protected], Robin Griffiths 07808 767907 [email protected] or Stephen Bradley 07990 761382 [email protected]
