GovWire

How much will be paid

84 per guard.

Where to use this item

Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier

Only on trees within a parcel managed with one of the following options:

• BE3 - Management of hedgerows
• BE4 - Management of traditional orchards
• BE5 - Creation of traditional orchards (Higher Tier only)
• WD4 - Management of wood pasture and parkland
• WD5 - Restoration of wood pasture and parkland (Higher Tier only)
• WD6 - Creation of wood pasture and parkland (Higher Tier only)
• WD7 - Management of successional areas and scrub
• WD8 - Creation of successional area and scrub (Higher Tier only)
• WD10 - Management of upland wood pasture and parkland
• WD11 - Restoration of upland wood pasture and parkland (Higher Tier only)
• WD12 - Creation of upland wood pasture (Higher Tier only)

Where this item cannot be used

With the following items:

• TE6 - Tree guard (tube and mesh)
• TE7 - Tree guard (wood post and rail)

How this item will benefit the environment

If successful this item will protect trees from damage caused by grazing animals and wild animals.

Requirements

• erect tree guards at least 1.5 m high with posts placed far enough apart that grazing animals cannot reach within 0.5m of the tree stem

• the design of the tree guard must allow access for:

  • carrying out formative pruning
  • applying a mulch
  • clearing vegetation around the base of each tree

• tree guards need to be constructed in one of two ways, either:

  • with at least 3 treated timber corner posts, and top and bottom rails that are 5cm in diameter
  • with sheep netting attached between the top and bottom rails
  • increase the height of the guard if needed, using longer posts and an additional strand of wire strung above the sheep netting
  • wrap 2 strands of plain or barbed wire spirally around the guard to prevent animals from rubbing against it

• or alternatively:

  • use at least 2 stakes placed at least 0.5m apart
  • one stake must be at least 1.5m high, and the other at least 0.5m high
  • use strong weld mesh wire, at least 1.5m high, wrapped around and securely fastened to the outside of the stakes at least 0.25m from the trunk
  • to prevent the trunk rubbing against the metal, either bend the vertical strands of the wire mesh so they face outwards; or push a piece of rubber tubing slit lengthways on to the top of the wire circle
  • wrap 2 strands of barbed wire spirally around the guard to prevent livestock from rubbing against it

Do not:

• fasten guards to the tree
• attach guards so that they rub against, constrict or the damage the tree in any other way

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 existing trees to be protected

Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant manual Mid Tier or Higher Tier for more detail.

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

• photographs of the completed work.

Related Mid Tier items

This item can be used with the following items:

• TE1 - Planting standard hedgerow tree
• TE3 - Planting fruit trees
• TE2 - Planting standard parkland tree (Higher Tier only)

Further information

Read more information about Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier to find out more about the scheme and how to apply.