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How much will be paid

6.34 per metre (m).

Where to use this item

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier if one of the following apply:

• in conjunction with a habitat management or creation option where new fencing is required to meet the option grazing requirements
• to prevent water pollution caused by farming (approval from Catchment Sensitive Farming is not required nor does the parcel need to be in a High Priority area for water quality)
• to protect environmental features (for example newly planted trees, buffer strips and field corners taken out of management) or as agreed with the Forestry Commission Woodland Officer.

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants:

• to prevent water pollution caused by farming (approval from Catchment Sensitive Farming is not required nor does the parcel need to be in a High Priority area for water quality)
• to protect environmental features (for example newly planted trees, buffer strips and field corners taken out of management) or as agreed with the Forestry Commission Woodland Officer.

It is also available for Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot) to help you undertake the actions in the following SFI pilot standards:

• Hedgerows standard
• Water body buffering standard
• Arable and horticultural land standard
• Improved grassland standard
• Low/no input grassland standard
• Farm woodland standard, but only if you also apply for TE4 (Supply and plant a tree) and locate the sheep netting on arable land or improved grassland used for the optional Expand your woodland action.

In these above instances, you do not have to locate the fencing in a position to prevent water pollution caused by farming.

Where this item cannot be used

• On historic or archaeological features as identified in the Historic Environment Farm Environment Records (HEFER)
• On a site where a fence has previously received a grant

How this item will benefit the environment

This item helps control livestock, protects environmental features and helps to manage habitats.

Requirements

For new agreements you must:

• remove all old fencing material before putting up the new fencing
• use softwood timber that is fully peeled, coated with wood preservative and pressure treated, or treated with an HSE approved industrial wood preservative (to comply with Use Class 4 as defined in BS8417:2014 Preservation of Wood Code of Practice. Untreated durable timber can be used as set out in the Forestry Commission guide to forest fencing. As an alternative to wooden fence posts, you can use metal fence posts. For Higher Tier you should agree this with your Natural England Adviser or Forestry Commission Woodland Officer
• put up a fence at least 1.05m high
• use strands of galvanised 4 millimetre (mm) mild plain steel wire or 2.5mm barbed wire or high tensile
• use enough strands to control the livestock
• use straining posts that are at least 125mm by 125mm square (or have a 125mm top diameter) and are at least 2.1m long, or at least 2.4m long for metal fence posts
• set the straining posts at least 1000mm into the ground, or at least 1100mm for metal fence posts, and no more than 150m apart if using mild steel or 600m apart for high tensile wire. See the British Standard 1722-2:2020 for suitable straining construction example
• place a straining post at every change of direction (horizontal or vertical) and at each end of the fence, with suitable bracing required to achieve stability
• use struts that are 75mm by 75mm square, or have a 75mm top diameter, and 2.1m long (or at least 1.8m long for metal fencing)
• set the struts at least 450mm into the ground (or at least 700mm for metal fence posts) and mortise them into the straining post. Do not secure by a nail alone
• use intermediate posts that are 75mm by 75mm square (or have a 65mm top diameter) and 1.65m long (or at least 1.8m long for metal fencing)
• set the posts at least 600mm in the ground (or at least 700mm for metal fence posts) and no more than 3.5m apart for mild steel, and 4.5 metres for high tensile steel
• make sure that all work meets the relevant British Standards - see copies of the most up-to-date standards for guidance

Do not:

• attach the fence to trees or hedgerows
• block or restrict access to open access land
• hard staple the wire to intermediate posts. The wire should be a running fit so it can move, contract and expand in different temperatures

If you have an existing agreement, you must continue to follow the specifications in that agreement.

Keeping records

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

• photographs of the completed work

You must 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 before work starts

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.

Related Mid Tier and Capital Grants items

You can use this item on the same length as the following supplement:

• FG4 - Rabbit fencing supplement

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 holdings 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

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.