ACRES Scheme

The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is Ireland’s flagship scheme to encourage farmers help address biodiversity decline. This 5 year scheme kicks off in early 2023 and will provide farmers with an income linked to the outcomes of the actions taken.

Applications open in October 2022 with an application deadline of December 2022. Applications were made through qualified Farm Advisors and the scheme was already well over subscribed as of January 2023 showing an appetite for planting and biodiversity enhancing measures in the farming community.

Some of the Actions to be taken under ACRES Scheme include: 

Let’s explain some of the actions that can be taken under the scheme.

1. Planting A New Hedgerow
2. Planting a Traditional Orchard
3. Planting Trees in Riparian Buffer Zones
4. Tree Belts for Ammonia Capture from Farmyards
5. Tree Planting

1. Planting a New Hedgerow

This measure aims to enhance the visual appearance of the countryside, support biodiversity
on farms and protect water quality.

Requirements

1. Plant by 31 March 2024, min continuous length 10m &  max length for payment is 750m.
2. Must be marked on the map, & not be placed against an existing hedgerow, stone
wall or under treeline/woodland.
3. The new hedge must consist of at least 5/metre in a double staggered row
with a mix of at least 3 species from the Hedgerow species (Table 1. below). No one
species must make up more than 85% of the total.
4. Plants must be of Irish Origin or Irish Provenance & from DAFM
registered professional operators.
5. All plants have plant passport, retained for the duration of the
contract.
6. All newly planted hedgerows in a grass or tillage field must be protected from livestock.
7. Grass & weeds controlled annually.
8. Failed or dead plants must be replaced in the following planting season.

Table 1. Hedgerow Species for ACRES Scheme Planting – PLANTING A NEW HEDGEROW

Table 2. Tree Species for ACRES Scheme –  PLANTING A NEW HEDGEROW

(0.6 – 0.9 metres high)

2. Planting a Traditional Orchard

To support biodiversity and help ensure the survival of traditional Irish apple varieties.

Requirements

1. Min 0.05 hectares with 10 traditional fruit trees from approved list before 31 March 2024.
2. The location marked on the map submitted.
3. Fenced off from livestock, grazing inside the fence with sheep is permitted provided that no damage caused to the trees.
4. Trees spaced at least 5 metres apart.
5. Plants must purchased from DAFM registered professional operators.
6. Must have plant passport retained for the duration of the contract.
7. Pesticides not permitted except for the spot treatment of noxious & invasive
weeds.
8. Grass & weeds must be controlled around the trees until they
become established.
9. Failed or dead trees must be replaced during the next planting season.

3. Planting Trees in Riparian Buffer Zones

To protect water quality by enhancing nutrient uptake while also supporting biodiversity.

Requirements

1. Select zone where tree planting will benefit water quality.
2. Select the Riparian buffer zone(s) for planting trees by drawing one point on the
zone. Then enter the number of trees that will be planted on the chosen zone(s) in
the quantity box provided.
3. The min is 10 and the max is 200.
4. Planting of trees must be completed by 31 March 2024.
5. Plants must be of Irish Origin or Irish Provenance and purchased from DAFM
registered professional operators.
6. All plants passport retained for the duration of the contract.
7. Trees must be Min of 60cms in Height
8. Plant at least 2 species from approved species
9. Do not plant in the vicinity of overhead wires, within 20m of railway lines, within
60m of a neighbouring dwelling house
10. Fit each tree with staked tree shelter, minimum 75cm in height, protect from livestock damage with appropriate fencing.
11. Grass and weeds must be controlled around the trees annually.
12. Failed or dead trees must be replaced during the next dormant season.
13. There must not be more than 200 trees planted per hectare. For example, in 0.1
hectares, the maximum trees to be planted is 20. The minimum spacing between
trees is 2 metres

Table 3. Tree Species for ACRES Scheme – PLANTING TREES IN RIPARIAN BUFFER ZONES

4. Tree Belts for Ammonia Capture from Farmyards

To capture ammonia emissions from livestock housing or uncovered slurry stores by directing
the emissions into the tree belt and through the main canopy.

Requirements

1. This action can be delivered on a full or split LPIS parcel. Where the action is selected on a split LPIS, it must be digitised and marked on the map submitted.
2. The minimum depth of shelterbelt is 30 metres. The minimum parcel area is 0.18
hectares and maximum area for payment is 0.5 hectares.
3. Planting of the tree belt must be completed by 31 March 2024.
4. The tree belt must be fenced off to protect from livestock at least 1.5 metres out from perimeter trees.
5. Purchased trees must be a minimum of 60cm in height and planted at a min 3
metre spacing between each tree.
6. Minimum number of trees is 1/10m2 of tree belt area.
7. Plants must be of Irish Origin or Irish Provenance and purchased from DAFM
registered professional operators.
8. Plant passports retained for the duration of the contract.
9. Plant at least 3 species from approved list & not more than 25% to be Scots Pine.
10. Grass & Weeds must be controlled around the trees annually.
11. Planting cannot take place within the vicinity of overhead wires, 20 m of railway or 60 m of neighbouring dwellings. The max distance from the livestock shed to the tree belt is 50m

Table 4. Tree Species for ACRES Scheme – TREES FOR AMMONIA CAPTURE

5. Tree Planting

To encourage the planting of trees on farms where they will have multiple benefits while
offering flexible planting options to suit the holding.

Requirements

1. Planting completed by 31 March 2024.
2. Select the LPIS parcel(s) for the tree planting action by drawing one point on the
map. Then enter the number of trees that will be planted on the chosen parcel(s) in
the quantity box provided.
3. The min planted is 100 where this action is taken as a priority action and 10 where it is taken as a general action. The max is 300 trees.
4. Do not plant in the vicinity of overhead wires, within 20m railway lines,
60m of a neighbouring dwelling house.
5. Plants must be of Irish Origin or Irish Provenance and Purchased from DAFM
registered professional operators.
6. Plant passport retained for the duration of the contract.
7. Min of 60cm in height.
8. Plant at least 3 native tree species, not more than 25% to be Scots pine.
9. Maintain at least 4 metre spacing between each tree.
10. Fit each tree (except Scots Pine) with a staked tree shelter, minimum 75cm in height, fence trees off with appropriate fencing.
11. If using individual barbed protectors for parkland or rows, the staked tree shelter and fencing is not required.
12. Grass and weeds must be controlled around the trees annually.
13. Failed or dead trees must be replaced during the next dormant season

Table 5. Tree Species for ACRES Scheme – TREE PLANTING

Cullen Nurseries are a family run, Multi Award Winning, Department of Agriculture approved Nursery based in Hacketstown, Co.Carlow. We grow and supply a large range of Native Trees, Ornamental Trees and Hedging Plants to our nationwide customer base. Please feel free to get in touch or pick up the phone to speak to one of the team.