TE8: Tree guard (wood post and wire)

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the tree guard (wood post and wire) item.

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
2 April 2015
Last updated
6 October 2022 — See all updates
Grant type:
Capital item
Land use:
Priority habitats, Trees (non-woodland), Uplands
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier, Mid Tier
Funding (per unit per year):
£101 to £200

How much will be paid

£132.16 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:

Where this item cannot be used

With the following items:

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 Mid Tier and Higher Tier 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.

This item can be used with the following items:

Further information

Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier and Higher Tier including how to apply.

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 6 October 2022 + show all updates

  1. Update to 'Where to this item' to include WD10, WD11 and WD12

  2. Updated for 2017 applications.

  3. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  4. First published.

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