Some 170 farmers were penalised by the Department of Agriculture under cross-compliance rules on hedgerows and habitats in 2015.

The outcome of 2016 cross-compliance inspections is not yet known, according to the Department.

Of the 170 farmers penalised in 2015 for breaches relating to landscape features, including hedgerows and habitats, the majority were issued with a penalty of between 1% and 5% of their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) money.

Another eight farmers breached the rules to such an extent that they lost 9% to 15% of the BPS, while a further eight lost between 20% and 100% of their annual farm payment.

Since 2009, hedgerows and drains have been designated as landscape features.

This means that the area under them is eligible for payment but it also means that they cannot be removed in normal circumstances.

If, for any reason, a hedge must be removed, the farmer must plant a replacement hedgerow of a similar length before removing the existing hedge and the existing hedge cannot be removed during the bird nesting season.

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