GovWire

How much will be paid

53.95 per tree.

Where to use this item

Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, Higher Tier (including WD2: Woodland Improvement) and Capital Grants.

Only on trees along a streamside or riverbank that are not currently managed under a regular coppicing programme.

How this item will benefit the environment

The coppicing of bankside trees increases the longevity and health of these features, provides valuable habitat and habitat corridors in river valley and wetland landscapes and in the right location can help stabilise river and ditch banks.

Requirements

• coppice trees between 1 September and 1 March
• cut trees between 7.5cm and 15cm above ground level
• protect cut stools from livestock, deer and rabbits to allow re-growth
• control the growth of nettle, thistle, dock, ragwort and other weed species; any herbicide applications must be by spot treatment or weed wiping only

Keeping records

Agreement holders will need to 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 trees to be coppiced

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.

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them with the claim:

• photographs of the completed work

Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item

The following section gives advice on carrying out this item successfully but does not form part of the requirements for this item.

Picking the right location

This item can be used for individual or small groups of trees along a streamside or riverbank.

It can be used to bring trees into a coppicing programme or for the selection of single stems to grow on to become mature trees.

The short-term visual impact on the landscape should be considered when determining the percentage of trees to be coppiced along any stretch of watercourse.

Management

Angle cuts away from the centre of the crown when coppicing to allow water to run off.

Cut material can be disposed of by stacking in piles on site, removing it from the site, or burning. Leave material in as large pieces as possible and do not stack against the trees that have been cut.

Small branches and twigs (under 10cm in diameter) can be burnt on site provided trees are not damaged. Avoid disposal on sensitive habitats or historic features.

Fire sites should be a minimum of 10m from the canopy of any tree.

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.