RP4: Livestock and machinery hardcore tracks

How much you’llwill be paid paid

£44.63 per metre (m).

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InstallingHardcore hardcore tracks

You must:

• excavateExcavate a trench at least 2.4m wide and at least 150 millimetres (mm) deep, or down to a naturally occurring hard surface
• profile Profile the edge of the track with the excavated soil
• overlayOverlay the area with a geotextile membrane if the base of the trench lies on subsoil –(a a geotextile membrane is not needed if the base is bedrock or chalkchalk)
• fillFill the excavatedtrench area with aggregatestone (hardcore)or hardcore to a depth of at least 150mm150mm, and then compact it
• finishFinish the top of the track with a finer material (of 18mm to dust) to a depth of 25mm25 to 50mm50mm, –and compact it into a convex camber (like a dome shape)
• directDirect any track runoff to a ditch or other stable drainage outlet, or divert it on to grassland

InstallingHardcore hardcore tracks using concrete sleepers

You

• Excavate must excavate a trench following the instructions above and layin addition:
  • Invert the concrete sleepers:
    • invertedsleepers and  solay thethem topslightly proud of the sleepers are slightly above ground level
    • Lay the sleepers directly on to a level, firm surface and butt them up against each other to form a track across the trench (a geotextile membrane is not required)

  InstallingHardcore hardcore tracks on peaty soils

  You must:

  • excavateExcavate a trench 2.4m wide and at least 300mm deepdeep, (oror 500mm on deep peats)peats
  • digDig out soft pockets in the profile, drain them, fill them with well compacted hardcore and cap them with clay
  • layLay a geotextile membrane to the full width of the track, folding up the sides of the trench
  • layLay the membrane in the trench on to a surface that will not puncture the material
  • allowAllow at least 300mm for any sheetsoverlap of membranethe to overlapmembrane
  • fillFill the trench to within 50mm of the top with stone or hardcore (from 40mm to dust)
  • profileProfile and compact the track to produce a convex camber
  • topTop off the track with a wearing course (18mm to dust) to a depth of 25mm25 to 50mm50mm, and compact it to produce a convex camber
  • makeMake sure the geotextile membrane is fully covered – if necessary,necessary yougrass mustturf usemay grassbe turfused to prevent exposure of the membrane at the edge of the track

  YouDo must not not:

  • use general, ungraded building rubble.
    rubble

  EvidenceKeeping you must keep records

  YouWhere mustyou keepare writtenusing supportthis fromitem youron Catchmenta Sensitivepublic Farmingright of way, consult the local highways authority (LHA) before you apply to get any advice or Naturalconsent Englandwhich adviseryou andneed. provideYou itdo not need to send this with your application.application, but you will need to send any consents with your payment claim.

  You must alsosend the following with your application:

  • written support from CSF or Natural England adviser

  You must keep the following records and providesupply them with your payment claim:

  • photographs of the site during the different stages of construction or contracts, invoices or other documents confirming the technical specification for the completed works
  • photographs of the completed workworks in place and installed
  • any consents or permissions connected from the local highways authority (LHA)

  You must also keep the following records and providesupply them on request:

  • any consents or permissions connected with the work (in addition to the ones providedstated with your claim)above)
  • receipted invoicesinvoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
  • photographs ofor the site before works start

  Read

  Related theMid recordTier keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants,Grants Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants for more information.

  Other items you can use with this item

  You can use this item withon thesethe items:

  RP5:same Crossarea drains

  RP6:as Installationthe ofRP5 piped- culvertsCross in ditchesdrains item.

  Advice toand helpsuggestions youfor usehow to carry out this item

  The following advice mayis helphelpful, you to use this item, but youthey doare not haverequirements tofor follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.  item.

  BritishHow Standards  

  Check to makechoose sure the works meet relevant British Standards.

  Choosing a location

  It’sIt is best to:

  • construct the tracks alongside field boundaries rather than across the middle of the field –- this will help preserve the appearance of the landscape
  • avoid placing the tracks where they’llthey will cause runoff or lead to erosion
  • camber the tracks so there’swater nosheds standingcontinuously wateroff them
  • use cross drains or bunds if youthe tracks cannot camberbe the trackscambered
  • use cross drainsdrains, (Ifif necessary)necessary, on sloping tracks or tracks that lead on to a highway

  When to add a geotextile membrane

  You do not need to use a geotextile membrane for all types of soil. It’sIt is not usually needed on firm shale and some limestone or chalk soils except on a steep slope. Clay soils and peats will need a greater depth of stone to make up the track layers.

  Tracks used by machinery may need a geotextile membrane and base layer of stonestone, depending on the type of soil. Concrete sleepers alone are not adequate for machinery tracks.

  MaintainingHow to maintain the tracks

  You should replace and compact any material lost to potholes and erosion. You should keep the track dry and firm and deal with any problems as soon as they appear.

  Permanent ineligible features

  Constructed farm tracks may be classed as permanent ineligible features and excluded from area payment schemes.

  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) provides farmers with free advice and training to improve water and air quality and reduce flood risk. 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.