RP22: Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps item.
How much will be paid
£19.50 per square metre.
Where to use this item
Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Grants.
Only:
- in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution from agriculture
- with support from a Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) officer
This item can be used to move a static holding pen used in conjunction with a mobile sheep dip.
Where this item cannot be used
- build new, permanent sheep dips facilities on a farm where there are no existing dipping facilities
- replace existing equipment in the same location
- without relevant advice or consents from the Environment Agency or Local Planning Authority
How this item will benefit the environment
It will install a new sheep dip drainage apron and sump in new locations. Pollution from sheep dips can cause damage to people and aquatic wildlife. Relocating sheep dips and pens can help reduce risk of diffuse water pollution.
Requirements
- design the drainage aprons to redirects drainage water from the pen area back to the dip bath
- the apron must be is made of impermeable concrete
- design the residue sump to catch debris, such as wool and faeces, and prevent it from re-entering the dipping tank
- construct the sump of engineering brick walls set on a concrete base
- install a drainage apron and sump which complies with the Groundwater Protection Code
- meet relevant British Standards - examine copies of the most up-to-date standards for guidance
Keeping records
Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them on request:
- any consents or permissions connected with the work
- receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
- photographs of the existing site and current dipping facilities before works start
Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Mid Tier, Higher Tier or Capital Grants guidance for more detail. You can find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.
Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them with the claim:
- photographs of the completed work
Before applying, applicants must seek advice from the EA and Local Planning Authority to check if consent is required to carry out the planned work. You do not need to provide this with your application, but you will need to submit consents/permissions with your payment claim. Applicants will have to send the following with their application:
- for Mid Tier and Capital Grants, written support from a CSF officer
Related Mid Tier and Capital Grants items
This item can be used on the same area as the following items:
- RP21 - Relocation of sheep pens only
- RP23 - Installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep)
Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item
The following section gives advice on carrying out this item successfully but does not form part of the requirements for this item.
How to get a permit to discharge sheep dip
Agreement holders will need an environmental permit to discharge sheep dip to land. A variation to an existing permit may also be required if the location of the discharge area has changed.
Where to install drain pens
New drain pens should be located at least:
- 10m from watercourses (including streams, ditches, land drains and wetlands)
- 30m from watercourses that drain into protected conservation sites (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs))
- 50m from any spring, well or borehole
Dip baths and pens should not be installed on a slope, or at the top of one, where there is a risk that spillage might drain to a watercourse, road or track.
How to get best results
Drain pens should preferably have a roof to prevent clean water from yards, roofs or land running into them.
How to protect the historic environment
Agreement holders should avoid using this item:
- close to a historic farmstead or listed building (get advice on listed building consent)
- on sites of archaeological or historic importance as identified in the HEFER (get advice on Scheduled Monument consent from Historic England, before using this item on such sites)
Agreement holders should also consider the character of the landscape when constructing new fencing lines. This particularly applies in designated landscapes or historic parkland. Agreement holders must consult Natural England if intending to install the dip on an SSSI. How to construct the drain pens
The most effective drain pens should:
- be large enough to hold sheep for at least 10 minutes after dipping
- have properly sealed floors and built-in slopes (allowing excess dip to drain back to the bath, rather than soaking into the ground, the soil or a surface water drain)
- have concrete areas that are impermeable, with watertight sealed joints
- have a filter or trap to prevent dirt and dip draining back into the bath
Biodiversity
This item has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.
The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.
Further information
Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) operates in parts of the country where there are water quality issues linked to farming. The scheme provides farmers with free advice and training. See guidance for further information on CSF support.
Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Grants including how to apply.
Last updated 9 February 2021 + show all updates
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Added in links to Capital Grants manual as this option is now available for Capital Grants
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Information updated for applications in 2016
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First published.