BRIDE Project FAQ’s

The BMA is the Biodiversity Managed Area and will comprise of all the habitats that are present on a farm. These include hedgerows, bogs, drains, quarries/glens, field margins, derelict buildings, historic monuments, wetland, semi-natural grassland, treelines, woodland, streams/rivers, ponds, scrub, riparian buffer strips and winter stubble.

The principle aim of the project is that all participating farmers will have at least 10% BMA by the end of the 5 years duration.  Teagasc research suggests that most farms have close to 10% BMA already.

The BMP is the Biodiversity Management Plan drawn up by the Project Ecologist for each individual farm. Each farm will be walked and all habitats noted. Following a consultation with the farmer and taking into account the farm enterprise, a specific plan for the farm will then be drawn up. This will then be explained to the farmer and if agreed the plan will then be implemented.

In previous agri-environment schemes farmers were paid on actions e.g. planting trees/hedges, however, with the BRIDE Project a participant will receive yearly Results-based payments on their habitats, the amount of which will depend on the biodiversity quality of that habitat. The better the quality the higher the payment. All of the habitats included in the BMA will be scored and a quality mark given accordingly.

Yes but the BRIDE Project cannot give payments for the same measure undertaken in GLAS. No duplicate payments.

Yes, provided the land will be farmed by the participating farmer for the duration of the plan (up to 31st Dec 2023)). Written permission will also have to be sought from the owner of the rented land. However, the rented land will have to be within the BRIDE catchment area (see map).

Yes, all participants must be actively farming the land i.e. landowners not farming and leasing their land cannot participate in the project.

No, all farm sizes will be eligible. There are no minimum or maximum thresholds for entry to the BRIDE Project.

A hedgerow management plan will be drawn up for each individual farm and will differ depending on enterprise and species present. However, in general mature hedgerows are more biodiverse than those that are routinely cut so farmers will be encouraged to allow hedges to blossom and fruit. Side trimming of hedges will be encouraged to prevent scrub encroachment onto the field but also to allow light into the base of the hedge thus helping wildflower growth, small mammals and pollinators.

Roadside hedges can be managed in a similar manner, however where sightlines, sharp bends, overhead power lines and encroachment onto the road are an issue, these can be dealt with as normal and at any time of the year.

Yes – the project is about managing the farm for biodiversity so once the plan is carried out and managed correctly it is irrelevant whether a farmer works full-time or part-time.

The Project team will attempt to include a cross-section of farm enterprises. Also, a wide geographic spread over the entire Bride river catchment area will be more beneficial to the goals of the project rather than in a specific localised area.  However, clusters of farmers in any given area will get priority over a fragmented farm base.

Yes, any farm with a species from the BRIDE Project Target Species or Habitat List will get higher priority. The Project Ecologist will confirm the criteria. These include breeding confirmation of any of the bird, mammal or amphibian species listed below.
The presence of any of the Targets Habitats listed including a roost site for any of the bat species will also receive a higher priority.

There will be no claw back but a letter of compliance, with the Project measures carried out, will be needed from the purchaser/leasee.

There will be no penalties or claw back.

Yes, an independent ecologist is available to give a second opinion.

Because the payments are coming from public funding,  the usual accountability and transparency  guidelines will apply but it is envisaged that the probability of an inspection  is low and is more likely to occur at project team level rather than at farmer level.

Because a new system of payment is being tried (results based) this will mean at least one visit per year to score the habitats on the farm and thus estimate payment.

It is hoped that payments for capital costs will be paid twice yearly. For work carried out in Jan-June payment will issue once all receipts are in and the work inspected. This should be September at the latest. Work carried out between July and December will be paid in February upon receipt of paid invoices. The result-based payment will issue at the end of each year of the Project.