BC3 Crop protection fencing mesh and wire for permanent crops

Find out about eligibility and requirements for beaver protection infrastructure item

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
5 July 2022
Grant type:
Capital item
Tiers or standalone items:
Standalone capital items
Funding (per unit per year):
Up to £100

Aim

To protect permanent crops using strong mesh wire fencing to remove or reduce the likelihood of beavers accessing the land to forage.

How much will be paid

£3.20 per metre (m).

Where to use this item (eligibility)

  • There must be evidence of beaver activity within the catchment area to be protected, see section 5.7 of the Protection and Infrastructure grants guidance for a list of catchment areas.

  • There must be a permanent crop including Cricket Bat Willow within 100 metres of a water body or watercourse where beavers are foraging or there is a strong likelihood of foraging. For more information about permanent crops please see the BPS definition of permanent crops guide on GOV.UK.

Where this item cannot be used

On historic or archaeological features as identified in the Historic Environment Farm Environment Records (HEFER).

How this item will benefit the environment

This item helps beavers to remain whilst mitigating against the foraging activity of beavers.

Requirements:

You must:

  • Remove old fencing before erecting new fencing. Or, where fencing has previously been funded (through Agri-environment schemes) and is still within the ex-post requirements, attach new fencing to existing fencing. You can utilise the existing posts and strengthen or improve with new posts where required.
  • Wire mesh fencing should be 0.9 metres – 1.5 metres high so that beavers cannot get above it.
  • Use galvanised 18 gauge, 31 millimetre hexagonal wire mesh to construct the fence.
  • Attach netting to a pair of 2.65 millimetre, high tensile, spring steel straining wires using galvanised netting rings.
  • Make sure there is one straining wire at the bottom of the fence and one at the top.
  • Bury the bottom edge of the netting to a depth of 150 millimetres or lap the netting on the surface of the ground towards the water body or water course.
  • Anchor lapped netting at 1 metre intervals.
  • Make sure that all materials meet relevant British Standards.
  • Comply with existing legislation and contact the Flood Risk Management Authority (RMA) to check if any permissions or permits are required. Some activities in and/or near rivers which could affect rivers and flood risk, may require permission from environmental regulators.
  • Further guidance and who to contact can be found on GOV.UK.

You must not:

  • attach the fence to trees or hedgerows
  • use electric fencing
  • block or restrict access to open access land
  • install fencing on historic or archaeological features
  • install fencing that is located close to a watercourse or across a watercourse.

Keeping records

You must send the following with your application:

  • Photograph of the permanent crop to be protected.
  • Map to confirm location of works.
  • Any relevant advice or consents from the relevant Flood Risk Management Authority (RMA).

You must keep the following records and supply them with your payment claim:

  • Photograph of completed works.
  • Receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable.
  • Consents or permissions connected with the work.

Please see the Protection and Infrastructure grants guidance for more details about record keeping and site visits.

You can use this item alongside the following standalone capital items: BC4 – Tree guard post and wire

Further information

Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Protection and Infrastructure grants including how to apply.

Published 5 July 2022
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