{"analytics_identifier":null,"base_path":"/capital-grant-finder/te15-plant-groups-of-trees-in-large-guards","content_id":"194feaac-7b47-49dd-bdd4-924fb018ea84","description":"Find out about eligibility and requirements for the plant groups of trees in large guards item. ","details":{"body":"<div class=\"example\">\n  <p>This item is part of Higher Tier Capital Grants 2026. You must read the <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-tier-capital-grants-2026\">Higher Tier Capital Grants 2026 guidance</a> to understand the rules and how to apply.</p>\n\n  <p>If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (<abbr title=\"Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier\">CSHT</abbr>) application, you must read the <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht\"><abbr title=\"Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier\">CSHT</abbr> applicant’s guide</a> to understand the rules and how to apply.</p>\n</div>\n\n<h2 id=\"how-much-youll-be-paid\">How much you’ll be paid </h2>\n\n<p>£572.78 per large guard (planting a minimum of 80 trees) - a large guard is a surround to the perimeter of a group of trees.   </p>\n\n<h2 id=\"how-this-item-benefits-the-environment\">How this item benefits the environment</h2>\n\n<p>Protecting trees from damage caused by grazing animals and wild animals allows the development of scrub, wood pasture and tree patches across the landscape. This helps create better connectivity.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"where-you-can-use-this-item\">Where you can use this item </h2>\n\n<p>You can only use this item with the approval of Natural England alongside a management action to create or manage scrub and open habitat mosaics, or alongside at least one of these actions or options:</p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/scr1-create-scrub-and-open-habitat-mosaics\">SCR1: Create scrub and open habitat mosaics</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/scr2-manage-scrub-and-open-habitat-mosaics\">SCR2: Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cwd7-manage-scrub-and-open-habitat-mosaics\">CWD7: Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cwd8-create-scrub-and-open-habitat-mosaics\">CWD8: Create scrub and open habitat mosaics</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cwd20-create-wood-pasture\">CWD20: Create wood pasture</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cwd21-restore-wood-pasture-and-parkland\">CWD21: Restore wood pasture and parkland</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cwd22-manage-wood-pasture-and-parkland\">CWD22: Manage wood pasture and parkland</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/management-of-wood-pasture-and-parkland-wd4\">WD4: Management of lowland wood pasture and parkland</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/restoration-of-wood-pasture-and-parkland-wd5\">WD5: Restoration of lowland wood pasture and parkland</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/creation-of-wood-pasture-wd6\">WD6: Creation of lowland wood pasture</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/management-of-successional-areas-and-scrub-wd7\">WD7: Management of successional areas and scrub</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/creation-of-successional-areas-and-scrub-wd8\">WD8: Creation of successional areas and scrub</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/wd10-management-of-upland-wood-pasture-and-parkland\">WD10: Management of upland wood pasture and parkland</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/wd11-restoration-of-upland-wood-pasture-and-parkland\">WD11: Restoration of upland wood pasture and parkland</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/wd12-creation-of-upland-wood-pasture\">WD12: Creation of upland wood pasture</a></p>\n\n<p>You cannot use this item to plant trees in an agroforestry system or to plant an orchard.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"what-you-must-do-to-use-this-item\">What you must do to use this item</h2>\n\n<p>You must erect large guards that are 3.6 metres (<abbr title=\"metres\">m</abbr>) by 3.6m and are at least 1.2m high which have:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>4 untreated timber corner posts and 4 untreated intermediate posts</li>\n  <li>5 untreated wooden rails which are at least 5 centimetres (<abbr title=\"centimetres\">cm</abbr>) in width and 10cm in height placed to allow the trees to establish</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You must:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>use robust guards which can withstand damage from livestock</li>\n  <li>plant at least 80 trees within the guards</li>\n  <li>plant the trees within the guard using pit planting – digging a hole to accommodate the root ball</li>\n  <li>select a planting stock that complies with the Forest Reproductive Material Regulations 2002 (where applicable)</li>\n  <li>plant stock which is appropriate in size and stock type to the site and prevailing conditions</li>\n  <li>plant a maximum of 24 large tree guards per hectare (see ‘advice to help you use this item’ for our recommendations)</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>Plant native tree species which are appropriate for the soil and climatic conditions. You must plant a mix of trees, of which at least:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>50 trees are blackthorn or hawthorn planted within the outer edge of the guard</li>\n  <li>20 trees are a native shrub species such as hazel, bird cherry, aspen, crab apple</li>\n  <li>10 trees are one or two native canopy forming species per guard such as oak, birch, rowan or similar</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You should discuss and agree requirements that are specific to your site with your Natural England adviser.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"evidence-you-must-keep\">Evidence you must keep</h2>\n\n<p>You must keep and provide with your claim:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable</li>\n  <li>photographs of the completed work</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You must also keep any consents or permissions connected with the work and provide them on request.</p>\n\n<p>Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agreement-holders-guide-capital-grants-higher-tier-capital-grants-and-protection-and-infrastructure-grants-2026\">Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants</a> for more information.</p>\n\n<p>If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (<abbr title=\"Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier\">CSHT</abbr>) application, read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht\"><abbr title=\"Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier\">CSHT</abbr> agreement holder’s guide</a>.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"advice-to-help-you-use-this-item\">Advice to help you use this item</h2>\n\n<p>The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.   </p>\n\n<h3 id=\"how-to-choose-the-tree-guards\">How to choose the tree guards</h3>\n\n<p>We recommend using a mix of 10 to 15 large guards and 15 to 20 small (weldmesh, post and rail or post and wire)  guards per hectare (with a combined maximum total of 30). You may plant up to 24 large guards per hectare, but this is not recommended. The guards should be placed at least 19m apart.</p>\n\n<p>If more guards per hectare are used or this item is used in combination with other areas of tree planting, then <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/613f6bb3d3bf7f05ab78647c/171024-EIA-Scoping-and-ES-Statement-Guidance-v.5.pdf\">Environmental Impact Assessment forestry regulations.</a> forestry regulations may apply.</p>\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"First published.","public_timestamp":"2025-09-10T12:46:23Z"}],"headers":[{"id":"how-much-youll-be-paid","level":2,"text":"How much you'll be paid "},{"id":"how-this-item-benefits-the-environment","level":2,"text":"How this item benefits the environment"},{"id":"where-you-can-use-this-item","level":2,"text":"Where you can use this item "},{"id":"what-you-must-do-to-use-this-item","level":2,"text":"What you must do to use this item"},{"id":"evidence-you-must-keep","level":2,"text":"Evidence you must 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