This item is part of Protection and Infrastructure grants 2026. You must read the Protection and Infrastructure grants 2026 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.
\n£6.34 per metre (m).
\n\nThis item helps:
\n\nbeavers remain on river catchments
\nmitigate against the foraging activity of beavers
\nYou can use this item:
\n\nwhere there’s evidence of beaver activity within the river catchment area you’re protecting – see section 2.1.2 of the Protection and Infrastructure guidance for a list of catchment areas
\nto protect permanent crops within 100m of a waterbody or watercourse where beavers are foraging or there is strong likelihood of foraging – see the land use codes for more information
\nCricket bat willow is an eligible permanent crop for this item.
\n\nYou cannot use this item on historic or archaeological features as identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).
\n\nYou must:
\n\nremove old fencing before erecting new fencing
\nuse wire mesh fencing between 0.9m and 1.5m high so beavers cannot get above it
\nuse galvanised that’s at least 18 gauge and 31 millimetres (mm) hexagonal wire mesh to construct the fence
\nattach netting to a pair of 2.65mm, high tensile, spring steel straining wires using galvanised netting rings
\nmake sure there’s one straining wire at the bottom of the fence and one at the top
\nbury the bottom edge of the netting to a depth of 150mm or lap the netting on the surface of the ground towards the water body or water course
\nanchor netting at 1m intervals if lapping (folding over)
\nAttach new fencing to existing fencing posts if both of the following apply:
\n\nyou have fencing that was previously funded through Countryside Stewardship
\nit’s 5 years from the start date of your agreement. You must maintain the item being funded to the agreed standard during this period
\nYou can use the existing posts and strengthen or improve with new posts where required.
\n\nYou may need consent from the Environment Agency, lead local flood authority or internal drainage board before starting any work. Read guidance on owning a watercourse for more information.
\n\nYou must not:
\n\nattach the fence to trees or hedgerows
\nuse electric fencing
\nblock or restrict access to open access land
\ninstall fencing on historic or archaeological features
\ninstall fencing that’s located close to a watercourse or across a watercourse without a relevant permit
\nYou must keep and provide with your application:
\n\nYou must keep photographs of the completed work and provide them with your claim.
\n\nYou must also keep and provide on request:
\n\nRead the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants for more information.
\n\nYou can use this item with these items:
\n\n\n\n\n\nThe 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
\n\nCheck to make sure the work meets relevant British Standards.
\n\nCall Natural England’s enquiry line if you have questions about beaver activity on your land. They’ll direct you to the most appropriate advice.
\n\nPhone: 0300 060 3900
\n\nEmail: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"Updated guidance to advise you must provide photographs of the completed work with your claim. ","public_timestamp":"2026-02-19T10:53:09Z"},{"note":"This item is part of Protection and Infrastructure grants 2025. You must read the Protection and Infrastructure grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.","public_timestamp":"2025-10-08T10:09:37Z"},{"note":"General improvement for clarity.","public_timestamp":"2025-02-03T11:06:48Z"},{"note":"Payment rate increased to £6.34 per metre in the 'How much will be paid' section.","public_timestamp":"2024-05-31T12:28:27Z"},{"note":"First published.","public_timestamp":"2022-07-05T07:47:03Z"}],"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 keep"},{"id":"other-items-you-can-use-with-this-item","level":2,"text":"Other items you can use with this item"},{"id":"advice-to-help-you-use-this-item","level":2,"text":"Advice to help you use this item"}],"max_cache_time":10,"metadata":{"grant_type":"capital-item"},"temporary_update_type":false},"document_type":"countryside_stewardship_grant","first_published_at":"2022-07-05T08:47:03+01:00","links":{"available_translations":[{"api_path":"/api/content/countryside-stewardship-grants/bc3-crop-protection-fencing-mesh-and-wire-for-permanent-crops","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/countryside-stewardship-grants/bc3-crop-protection-fencing-mesh-and-wire-for-permanent-crops","base_path":"/countryside-stewardship-grants/bc3-crop-protection-fencing-mesh-and-wire-for-permanent-crops","content_id":"63be8d65-4e9d-467a-9e02-b79937e32dc1","document_type":"countryside_stewardship_grant","links":{},"locale":"en","public_updated_at":"2026-02-19T10:53:09Z","schema_name":"specialist_document","title":"BC3: Crop protection fencing mesh and wire for permanent crops","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/bc3-crop-protection-fencing-mesh-and-wire-for-permanent-crops","withdrawn":false}],"finder":[{"api_path":"/api/content/capital-grant-finder","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/capital-grant-finder","base_path":"/capital-grant-finder","content_id":"0eb7b150-879a-4c44-becc-718e23a77e2c","details":{"facets":[{"allowed_values":[{"label":"Capital item","value":"capital-item"},{"label":"Supplement","value":"supplement"}],"display_as_result_metadata":false,"filterable":true,"key":"grant_type","name":"Grant type","preposition":"of type","type":"text"},{"allowed_values":[{"label":"Air quality","value":"air-quality"},{"label":"Arable land","value":"arable-land"},{"label":"Biodiversity","value":"biodiversity"},{"label":"Boundaries","value":"boundaries"},{"label":"Coast","value":"coast"},{"label":"Educational access","value":"educational-access"},{"label":"Flood risk","value":"flood-risk"},{"label":"Grassland","value":"grassland"},{"label":"Historic environment","value":"historic-environment"},{"label":"Livestock management","value":"livestock-management"},{"label":"Organic land","value":"organic-land"},{"label":"Priority habitats","value":"priority-habitats"},{"label":"Trees (non-woodland)","value":"trees-non-woodland"},{"label":"Uplands","value":"uplands"},{"label":"Vegetation control","value":"vegetation-control"},{"label":"Water quality","value":"water-quality"},{"label":"Pollinators and wildlife","value":"wildlife-package"},{"label":"Woodland","value":"woodland"}],"display_as_result_metadata":false,"filterable":true,"key":"land_use","name":"Areas of interest","preposition":"with","type":"text"}],"index_documents_in_search_engines":true,"show_metadata_block":true,"show_table_of_contents":true},"document_type":"finder","links":{},"locale":"en","public_updated_at":"2026-04-09T09:03:44Z","schema_name":"finder","title":"Capital grant finder","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/capital-grant-finder","withdrawn":false}],"organisations":[{"analytics_identifier":"EA58","api_path":"/api/content/government/organisations/rural-payments-agency","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/government/organisations/rural-payments-agency","base_path":"/government/organisations/rural-payments-agency","content_id":"e8fae147-6232-4163-a3f1-1c15b755a8a4","details":{"acronym":"RPA","brand":"department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs","default_news_image":null,"logo":{"crest":"single-identity","formatted_title":"Rural Payments