Key Dates for April and May 2020

Key Dates to Note

1 April – Heather, rough grass, bracken, gorse or vaccinium on land must not be burned, other than in upland areas, from this date. The burning season for land not within upland areas is 1 November to 31 March. (GAEC 6).

16 April – The burning season for heather, rough grass, bracken, gorse or vaccinium has come to an end for upland areas. The burning season for uplands is from 1 October to 15 April. (GAEC 6).

30 April – Those in an NVZ must record the number of livestock kept on the holding from the previous calendar year and calculate the nitrogen produced by them by this date. The number and type of livestock kept in buildings and hardstanding must also be recorded (SMR1).

1 May – Further to the closed period for cutting or trimming hedges or trees which started on the 1 March, hedge or tree coppicing, or hedge laying must not be carried out from this date. (GAEC 7a and GAEC 7c)

1 May – BPS 2020 Nitrogen fixing crops for Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) period begins, period ends on the 30 June.

15 May – BPS 2020 application deadline, applications from hereon may be subject to late application penalties.