BN9: Hedgerow supplement - substantial pre-work

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the hedgerow supplement - substantial pre-work item.

You can only apply for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide to understand the rules and how to apply.

This item is not available as a standalone capital grant.

How much will be paid

£7.06 per metre (m). The payment rate is for the total length of hedgerow under the supplement, not for each side of the boundary.

How this supplement benefits the environment

This supplement allows for substantial preparation work (‘pre-work’) to restore lengths of hedgerows including those located on difficult sites.

This will:

  • provide new habitat and food sources for bees, pollinators and birds
  • help capture carbon

Where you can use this supplement

You can use this supplement where you have management control of both sides of the boundary on hedgerows that:

  • have extensive bramble, elder or brash that need removing
  • are more than 5m wide after the previous season’s growth is removed
  • are on a slope of more than 20 degrees

To help you restore these hedgerows, you can use with these capital items:

You cannot use this supplement:

  • to remove old fences within hedgerows
  • to remove free-standing fences alongside hedgerows
  • to control weeds
  • for routine preparation before gapping-up or planting

What you must do to use this supplement

You must:

  • carry out the work specific to your site as agreed with your Natural England adviser
  • complete the hedgerow restoration works to the relevant specification

Your adviser will adapt the requirements for this item to your site. You should discuss and agree these requirements with them.

Evidence you must keep 

You must keep photographs of the completed work and provide with your claim.

You must also keep and provide on request:

  • any consents or permissions connected with the work
  • receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
  • photographs of each length of hedge entered into the supplement
  • supply item specification if required

As you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide.

Other items, supplements and actions you can use with this supplement

Capital items

You can use this supplement on the same length of hedgerow as these items:

BN5: Hedgerow laying

BN6: Hedgerow coppicing

BN7: Hedgerow gapping-up

BN11: Planting new hedges

Supplements

You can use this supplement on the same length of hedgerow as these supplements:

BN8: Hedgerow supplement - casting up

BN10: Hedgerow supplement - top binding and staking

Updates to this page

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 9 March 2021 show all updates
  1. Updated Where to use this item and how much will be paid.

  2. Updated for 2017 applications.

  3. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  4. First published.