Resource information
Section 18 of the Agriculture Act 1986 gives the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food power to designate areas in England as environmentally sensitive areas where it appears to him particularly desirable to conserve, protect or enhance environmental features in those areas by the maintenance or adoption of particular agricultural methods. This Order designates areas in Breckland, Clun, North Peak, Suffolk River Valleys and Test Valley as environmentally sensitive areas (art. 3). The Minister may enter into an agreement with any person having an interest in agricultural land in a designated area by which that person agrees in consideration of payments to be made by the Minister to manage the land in accordance with the agreement. The Order specifies what capital activities may attract aid and also specifies the maximum rates of payment which are payable in respect of various management activities. Payments may be made in respect of a capital activity or a management activity, specified for each area. "Stage II" refers to the first of four orders each designating a group of environmentally sensitive areas, and corresponds to the sequence in which they were originally designated and the consequent phasing of the dates for policy and payment reviews in those areas.
