HE1: Historic and archaeological feature protection
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the historic and archaeological feature protection item.
How much will be paid
Up to 100% of actual costs.
Where to use this item
It is available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Higher Tier Capital Grants only for work to conserve or protect individual historic environment features when physical work is needed to change land management practices or restore a site.
Where this item cannot be used
- For work related to historic (roofed) buildings
- For management plans for parklands, historic features or areas – use PA2 - Feasibility study
- For work previously funded under an agri-environment scheme
How this item will benefit the environment
It is for physical works that directly relate to conserving or protecting historic environment features in the landscape. This will help the long-term survival of historic and archaeological features.
Requirements
You must:
- agree a specification with Natural England or the Forestry Commission and then send at least 3 written quotations identifying all associated costs for completing the work in line with the specification
- agree the selected quotation with Natural England or the Forestry Commission
- complete the work as set out in the approved specification within the agreed time
- get any relevant consents before carrying out the work, such as scheduled monument consent from Historic England, listed building consent from the local planning authority, or felling licence from the Forestry Commission when removing trees
Keeping records
You must send the following with your application:
- 3 quotes for completion of the work
You must keep the following records and supply them with your payment claim:
- photographs to show completed works
- a detailed specification
You must keep the following records and supply them on request:
- any consents or permissions connected with the work
- photographs of the feature before works start
Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Higher Tier or Higher Tier Capital Grants guidance for more detail. You can find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.
Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item
The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.
Historic and archaeological features
Some historic environment features or areas are suffering from damage or loss. A land management option alone may not be enough, or may not be suitable, to make the management changes needed to protect the feature from further harm. The feature may also need restoration work.
This item supports this by funding work such as:
- moving fence lines or all-terrain vehicle tracks if they currently run across an archaeological site
- moving feed sites and restoring the surface
- clearing vegetation and restoring eroded surfaces
- consolidating structures, such as ruins or bridges, that are not eligible for HE2 - Historic building restoration
- de-silting designed water-bodies
- archaeological excavation, if it is needed to preserve ‘by record’ known archaeology which would be affected by agreed management on the site.
You can find information on the location of Scheduled Monuments, registered parks and gardens, registered battlefields and listed buildings, as well as undesignated historic and archaeological features on:
- the Historic England annual Heritage at Risk register - this identifies historic environment features at high risk from loss or damage
- the MAGIC website for information in map form
- the Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England website
- the county historic environment record
Complex sites
There is no standard specification for this item as all work will need to be tailored to the individual site. For complex situations or sites a management plan may be required and can be funded through PA2 - Feasibility study.
Further information
You can find more information from Historic England’s Farming the historic landscape booklet.
Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Higher Tier and Higher Tier Capital Grants including how to apply.
Last updated 14 February 2023 + show all updates
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This item is now available for Higher Tier Capital Grants
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'Land use' section updated to include woodland. 'Requirements' section updated to include Forestry Commission detail.
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The Keeping records section of this page has been updated
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Updated for 2017 applications.
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Information updated for applications in 2016.
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First published.