HILLS MINERALS & WASTE LTD

MAGDALEN COLLEGE OXFORD

TUBNEY WOODS QUARRY AND LANDFILL

Planning Permissions FYF 1030416-CM and FYF 10304/8-CM

Conditions 35 and 26 Respectively

AFTERCARE SCHEME

Oxfordshire County Council APPROVED (dated 11/2/09)

1 lntroduction

1.1 This aftercare scheme is to provide for the physical characteristics of the land to be restored, as far as it is practical to do so, to a condition suitable for forestry and agriculture. Aftercare will be managed in accordance with the requirements of Mineral Planning Guidance Note 7.

1.2 The steps to be taken shall cover a period of five years from the completion and reinstatement of topsoils over the site. Allowing for time for the restored land to "settle" the aftercare programme will be complete by or before 31st December 2020.

2 Restoration - Generally

2.1 Planning permission requires that the land will be restored progressively to agriculture and forestry. Restoration will follow the agreed working phases. As reinstatement progresses, new areas of woodland will be planted only after the restored land has settled which may not be for three years or so after reinstatement.

2.2 Completion of restoration work in any year will be programmed to allow flexibility of cropping and to ensure the correct timing of cultivations and seeding.

Responsibility

2.3 Hills Minerals& Waste Ltd will be responsible for compliance with the planning permission to reinstate the land. The day to day aftercare management of the reinstated land will be undertaken by the owner, Magdalen College, which has a long term interest in ensuring that it is returned to good agricultural heart.

2.4 Farming operations will be undertaken in accordance with the Rules of Good Husbandry and Estate Management. All soil cultivations will be undertaken with appropriate equipment in suitable soil conditions. Soil structure development will be kept under review and appropriate treatment agreed at aftercare meetings. 

3. Restoration for Agriculture

Seed-Bed Preparation

3.1 Following replacernent of subsoil and topsoil, the replaced top soils will be worked with appropriate agricultural machinery. Only light machinery will traverse the land. During cultivations any stones or other large objects which are brought to the surface and which are likly to impede cultivation or cropping shall be removed by hand.

Soil Sampling

3.2 When the restoration of each phase is complete and annually thereafter, if required, samples of the replaced soils will be taken for anaiysis. The analysis will identify any nutrient or structural deficiencies which can be made up with artificial fertiliser or compost.

Weeds

3.3 Weed, pest and disease control will be achieved by spraying, as necessary, with approved products.

Drainage

3.4 It is not proposed to install any artificial drainage immediately in the restored land as the land form gradients and the nature of the replaced soils will provide adequate falls and percolation for natural drainage. In addition, all areas of the land, including the areas proposed for forestry, will be ripped to break up compaction prior to replacement of the final soil layers. However, drainage will be kept under review in the agricultural areas and, if it is found to be necessary to install artificial drainage, this will be carried out when the land has fully settled.

Cropping

3.5 The initial cropping of the land will either be a short-term grass ley or a cereal crop. The grass seed to be chosen will include ryegrass, other meadow grasses and white clover. If grass is initially sown it will be cut or grazed with stock. In the alternative a cereal crop will provide a sound indicator of areas where remedial treatment for nutrient or drainage deficiencies will be necessary.

3.6 If it becomes apparent that an area has failed to germinate or grow properly the soil will be analysed and the area reseeded.

4 Restoration for Forestry

Tree Species

4.1 The County Forester has recommendead simple planting scheme with 60% ash and 40% oak. It would be easy to establish and would have a variety of potential uses. However, a final decision will not be made on species or numbers until the nature of the soils into which they will be planted can be fully assessed and the stucture of the land to be planted has stabilised and is settled. It is proposed to leave l0% of the land area unplanted to form glades and rides.

4.2 The trees will be planted at an average of 2.5 metre centres avoiding straight rows. They will be pit planted with a compost (slow release) fertiliser and a water retentive polymer. Plants will be 45 - 60 cm transplants or cell grown stock. Planting will be undertaken between November and January.

4.3 It is anticipated that the trees will be protected by individual tree shelters to aid establishment and maintenance. However, if it is considered necessary, deer fencing may need to be erected to protect the young trees.

4.4 Maintenance will include weeding around each tree using an approved herbicide, pruning the trees to maintain vigour, weeding of tree shelters as necessary and the treatment of pests and diseases as appropriate. Losses of trees will be replaced each year with the target that at least 90% of all trees will be thriving at the end of five years. Maintenance will continue for at least l0 years.

Herbicide treatment.

4.5 A slow release fertiliser will be included in the pit planting process. After two years a top dressing of fertiliser will be applied.

4.6 Weeding will be carried out with the use of a translocated herbicide in summer and a residual herbicide in winter. Herbicide will be applied within a I metre diameter circle around trees. Any growth of weeds outside the circle may be controlled by strimming or herbicide as appropriate.

5 Arable Weeds

5.1 A strip of land on the north side of the footpath approximately 20 metres wide and about 20 metres long (l acre)will be reserved as an arable weed strip. This land will be cultivated in September or October annually to encourage growth of rare arable weeds and will be sown with an arable crop to deter unwanted or noxious weeds, ragwort nettle and bramble and to encourage those weeds which traditionally grow within the arable crops. No herbicides or fertilisers will be applied. The crop will be topped or harvested in late summer every year.

5.2 The weeds which grow will be surveyed and identified by an ecologist annually and reported to the Mineral Planning Authority before the Aftercare Meeting.

6 Regular Aftercare Assessment

6.1 Annual aftercare meetings will be arranged to review aftercare and agree the programme for the forthcoming year. The following parties will be invited: Hills Minerals& Waste Ltd; the Mineral Planning Authority; Magdalen College; the agricultural contractor or Tenant; Defra; the Forestry Commission and the Tubney Woods Preservation Society together with any other interested party. The annual meeting should take place on site between April and October prior to cultivating or cropping the area.

6.2 The occupier will maintain a record of activities carried out on the land with a view to reporting to the site meeting details of the management which has been carried out.

6.3 In practice it is dificult to bring all invitees to an aftercare meeting due to pressure of other work. If this is the case, Hills Minerals & Waste, Magdalen College and the Tenant will continue to assess the management and cropping of the land annually and prepare a report in any event. The assessment will:

• Review the progress of the restoration, soil structure and any grass or crops which have been planted and the arable weeds which have returned.
• Identify any remedial work which is required including drainage requirements, weed, disease or pest control or replanting of failed tree or hedgerow plants.
• Agree any analyses needed to establish soil fertility.
• Determine the cropping and / or concentration of grazing for the reseeded areas and the equipment to be used.
• Agree the detailed aftercare programme for the following year.

7 General Note

7.1 This aftercare scheme may be varied at any time with the agreement of the local planning authority if warranted by soil and site conditions which may actually prevail in the restored land or assessments made on inspection.

JS/LMML 30.09.08