SB1: Scrub control and felling diseased trees
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the scrub control and felling diseased trees item.
How much will be paid
Payment rates
| Method of removal | Stem diameter | Percentage covered per ha | Payment per ha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine cut | Less than 7cm | Under 50% | £375 |
| Machine cut | Less than 7cm | 50% and over | £750 |
| Machine cut | 7cm and above | Under 50% | £750 |
| Machine cut | 7cm and above | 50% and over | £1,500 |
| Manual cut | Not applicable | Under 50% | £1,408.75 |
| Manual cut | Not applicable | 50% and over | £2,424.20 |
Where to use this item
It is available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Higher Tier Capital Grants only:
- to control or manage scrub with the agreement of Natural England (NE) or the Forestry Commission (FC)
- to remove immature trees that could spread disease and that cannot be economically felled with the agreement of the FC
You can use this item on the same area as TE12: stump grinding and WD2: woodland improvement.
How this item will benefit the environment
It will restore or maintain priority habitats and protect historic or archaeological features. It will prevent disease spreading from infected sites to the wider environment.
Requirements
You must agree:
- when to carry out the work
- whether to cut by hand or machine
- what to do with stumps
- how to dispose of cut material
- how to control regrowth and injurious weeds
- how to fell all diseased trees within an agreed area
- to remove non-symptomatic trees to reduce the risk of disease (as agreed with the adviser)
- what biosecurity measures to use to avoid transferring disease to other sites
Keeping records
You must get any relevant consents before you apply for this item. This may include:
- a felling licence from the Forestry Commission
- consent from NE to use the item on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
- consent from Historic England to use the item on a Scheduled Monument
You do not need to send the consents with your application, but you will need to send any that are required to with your payment claim.
You must keep the following records and supply them with your annual payment claim:
- photographs of the completed work
- a felling licence from the Forestry Commission
You must keep the following records and supply them on request:
- consent from NE to use the item on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
- consent from Historic England to use the item on a Scheduled Monument
- any consents or permissions connected with the work (in addition to the ones listed above)
- receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
- records of when the scrub control was carried out
- a record of any pesticide or herbicide treatments, including dates and locations
- a woodland management plan indicating the need for scrub control, if the scrub control takes place in woodland - this does not apply to diseased trees
- an Implementation Plan or Feasibility Study, if applicable, setting out the need for scrub control
- photographs of the trees/scrub, before works start
Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Higher Tier or Higher Tier 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 items
You can use this item on the same area as item TE12 - Stump grinding
Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item
The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.
Definitions of scrub, diseased trees and immature trees
Scrub means any woody shrubs, including European gorse, bramble and young trees. It does not include dwarf or western gorse, so this item cannot be used to control those species.
To be eligible under this grant, diseased trees are defined as immature Larch infected with Phytophthora ramorum subject to a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) or immature Douglas Fir or Western Hemlock infected with Phytophthora pluvialis subject to a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN).
An immature tree is one that is up to 25 years old.
When to use this item
With this item, cut scrub or trees manually or with a machine. Manual removal is carried out on foot, with a clearing saw or chainsaw, and machine cutting from a cab, by a tractor fitted with a flail.
This item can be used:
- if scrub is encroaching on to species-rich grassland
- around archaeological sites or historic features
- if species that depend on managed scrub are present, for example turtle dove and brown hairstreak
- within woodland to create permanent or temporary open areas
How to remove scrub
To remove scrub:
- cut scrub to ground level
- don’t disturb roots or leave protruding stems
- use item TE12 - Stump grinding
- keep the site free of scrub for the rest of the agreement
What to do with diseased trees
If you have an SPHN for diseased trees, they must follow the guidance in the SPHN. If there isn’t an SPHN, fell all infected trees in the contract area and follow the FC’s biosecurity guidance.
Additional guidance and advice
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
This option can form part of an IPM approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases. If successful, appropriate and within proximity of cropped areas, these may limit the need for the use of Plant Protection Products and enhance wildlife and biodiversity on your holding. Read information on IPM at AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) Integrated Pest Management and LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming).
Further information
Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Higher Tier and Higher Tier Capital Grants including how to apply.
Last updated 14 February 2023 + show all updates
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This item is now available for Higher Tier Capital Grants
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The Definitions of scrub, diseased trees and immature trees section has been updated
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Additional guidance and advice section added to explain this option can form part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases.
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The Keeping records section of this page has been updated
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Updated for 2017 applications.
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Information updated for applications in 2016
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First published.