{"analytics_identifier":null,"base_path":"/countryside-stewardship-grants/mechanical-bracken-control-sb5","content_id":"31adcbd7-b6ac-4583-98ee-e94240182d01","description":"Find out about eligibility and requirements for the mechanical bracken control 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.<br><br>\nIf you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht\">CSHT 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>£190.90 per hectare (ha).</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"how-this-item-benefits-the-environment\">How this item benefits the environment</h2>\n\n<p>Managing bracken can:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>restore or maintain high value natural habitats and the wildlife that live there</li>\n  <li>protect archaeological features</li>\n  <li>help maintain or enhance the landscape’s character</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"where-you-can-use-this-item\">Where you can use this item </h2>\n\n<p>You’ll need to get permission from either:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>Natural England (or the Forestry Commission for woodland) based on a bracken management plan – this must include Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles</li>\n  <li>the Forestry Commission if your woodland management plan identifies bracken as a threat to woodland or you’re applying for a <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/woodland-tree-health-grants-2026\">Woodland Tree Health grant</a>\n</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You can use it to manage bracken alongside management actions or options on habitats such as:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>dry grassland</li>\n  <li>woodland (including the creation and maintenance of new woodland)</li>\n  <li>sand dunes</li>\n  <li>moorland</li>\n  <li>lowland heathland</li>\n</ul>\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’ll need to agree a specification for the work with Natural England or the Forestry Commission.</p>\n\n<p>Your adviser will adapt the requirements for this item to your site. You should discuss and agree these requirements with them.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"evidence-you-must-keep\">Evidence you must keep </h2>\n\n<p>You must keep photographs of the completed work and provide with your claim.</p>\n\n<p>You must also keep and provide on request:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>any consents or permissions connected with the work</li>\n  <li>receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable</li>\n  <li>copies of the implementation plan or feasibility study (if applicable)</li>\n</ul>\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 (CSHT) application, read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht\">CSHT agreement holder’s guide</a>.</p>\n\n<p>If you’re applying for this item in a Woodland Tree Health grant application, read the record-keeping and site visit requirements in the <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/woodland-tree-health-grants-2026/agreement-holders-guide-woodland-tree-health-grants-2026\">Agreement Holder’s guide: Woodland Tree Health grants</a>.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"items-and-actions-you-can-use-with-this-item\">Items and actions you can use with this item</h2>\n\n<h3 id=\"capital-items\">Capital items</h3>\n\n<p>You can use this item with these capital plans:</p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/implementation-plan-pa1\">PA1: Implementation plan</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/feasibility-study-pa2\">PA2: Feasibility study</a></p>\n\n<h3 id=\"countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-actions\">Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions</h3>\n\n<p>You can use with these actions:</p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/clh1-manage-lowland-heathland\">CLH1: Manage lowland heathland</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/clh2-restore-lowland-heathland\">CLH2: Restore lowland heathland</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/clh3-create-lowland-heathland\">CLH3: Create lowland heathland</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cwd2-woodland-improvement\">CWD2 Woodland improvement</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cup2-manage-rough-grazing-for-birds\">CUP2: Manage rough grazing for birds</a></p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cup3-general-moorland-management\">CUP3: General moorland management</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=\"managing-bracken\">Managing bracken</h3>\n\n<p>Natural England or the Forestry Commission will help you choose the best method of bracken management.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"requirements-on-larger-sites\">Requirements on larger sites</h3>\n\n<p>You’ll need an implementation plan approved by Natural England or a feasibility study on larger sites (particularly where major habitat restoration is involved). This will include:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>the areas you’ll manage</li>\n  <li>the methods of management you’ll use</li>\n  <li>any follow up treatments to manage re-growth</li>\n  <li>any risks to sites of archaeological or ecological importance, soil erosion risks or effects on the landscape (short and long term)</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>The plan must include:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>sustainable land use</li>\n  <li>how it’s appropriate to the area</li>\n  <li>soil type</li>\n  <li>topography (how the land’s shape and features affect the soil)</li>\n  <li>climate</li>\n  <li>hydrology (water storage and movement)</li>\n  <li>ecological and historic designations</li>\n  <li>priority species</li>\n  <li>what habitats are already in the area</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3 id=\"requirements-for-small-sites\">Requirements for small sites</h3>\n\n<p>You may only need a simple plan for smaller, less complex sites. It should include a map showing areas you’ll treat and your planned schedule for managing the site. You may not need an implementation plan or feasibility study.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"environmental-concerns\">Environmental concerns</h3>\n\n<p>Make sure the planned bracken management has a minimal negative effect on other environmental interests on the site. You should follow <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.nature.scot/doc/uk-best-practice-guidance-bracken-management\">Natural England’s bracken management and control guidelines</a>.</p>\n\n<p>Mechanical control may cause more disturbance to archaeological sites, ground nesting birds and invertebrates than chemical control. During the nesting season, make sure that birds are not nesting in the treated area.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"frequency-of-treatments\">Frequency of treatments</h3>\n\n<p>You should treat the site twice in year 1. Repeat this for at least 3 years, depending on the level of success achieved.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"what-to-do-if-the-site-regenerates\">What to do if the site regenerates</h3>\n\n<p>On some sites, you can combine mechanical control with appropriate grazing to reduce bracken regrowth – this is because livestock trampling helps manage bracken.</p>\n\n<p>As the site regenerates, you may need to manage bracken regrowth or weeds such as nettle, thistle, dock or ragwort. An IPM approach may help reduce or remove the use of pesticides.</p>\n\n<p>You’ll need to agree a specification for ongoing control with Natural England or the Forestry Commission.</p>\n","change_history":[{"note":"With the permission of the Forestry Commission, you can apply for this item in a Woodland Tree Health grant application.","public_timestamp":"2026-07-10T07:17:07Z"},{"note":"Added further guidance under 'Where you can use this item' section. To use this item you'll need to get permission from the Forestry Commission if your woodland management plan identifies bracken as a threat to woodland.","public_timestamp":"2026-01-21T09:54:12Z"},{"note":"Removed CWD1: Woodland creation maintenance from the list of CSHT actions that can be used with this item.","public_timestamp":"2025-10-15T12:08:59Z"},{"note":"We have updated the CSHT actions that can be used with this item to include CWD1: Woodland creation maintenance \r\nand CWD2: Woodland improvement. \r\n","public_timestamp":"2025-06-26T09:59:11Z"},{"note":"General improvement for clarity.","public_timestamp":"2025-02-03T11:58:00Z"},{"note":"Can be used as a standalone capital item and not just in combination with a land management option.","public_timestamp":"2023-08-02T15:21:38Z"},{"note":"Information updated for applications in 2016","public_timestamp":"2016-03-29T14:59:34Z"},{"note":"First 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