WN8: Timber sluice

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the timber sluice item.

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
2 April 2015
Last updated
10 March 2017 — See all updates
Grant type:
Capital item
Land use:
Grassland, Priority habitats, Uplands
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier
Funding (per unit per year):
£401 to £500

How much will be paid

£451.50 per sluice.

Where to use this item

Available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier

Only with one of the following management options:

How this item benefits the environment

It will provide a simple mechanism for water level control, which will support raised water levels for restoring or creating habitats.

Requirements

  • construct the sluice to the size and height agreed with Natural England
  • use precut tongue and groove or chamfered boards, so that they fit tightly together and can easily be re-used or replaced
  • drive the boards far into the ditch sides and ditch bed, so that the bottoms are at least 300mm into impermeable soil (failure to do this will cause leaks)
  • make sure that the boards are long enough to raise the water to the desired level
  • install a first board central to the ditch, making sure it is absolutely vertical
  • drive in subsequent boards on either side of the central board and build towards each ditch bank
  • make sure that the final boards are well keyed into the ditch banks (use horizontal timbers or ‘string pieces’ to prevent them from moving or spreading)

Alternatively, for seepage barriers agreement holders will need to follow these steps:

  • construct the barrier using wooden slats
  • make sure the slats are formed either vertically or horizontally (if they are less than 2m wide)
  • leave a small gap of 2mm between each slat to allow the slow movement of water
  • use posts to support and secure the slats
  • make sure the vertically arranged slats stay in place by using horizontal timbers to brace them to posts on either side of the ditch
  • once the vertical boards are in place, cut out an appropriately sized opening and screw metal channeling to each vertical edge so that it accepts sluice boards
  • install a plank bridge across the back of the board tops on the downstream side
  • secure the plank bridge firmly into the ditch banks (to strengthen the structure and allow access to the drop boards for adjustment)

Keeping records

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them on request:

  • any consents or permissions connected with the work
  • receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
  • photographs of site before works start

Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Higher Tier guidance for more detail. You can find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them with the claim:

  • photographs of the site during the different stages of construction or contracts, invoices or other documents confirming the technical specification for the completed works
  • photographs of the completed works in place and installed

Before applying for this item, applicants should contact the Environment Agency for any advice or consent and obtain any other relevant consents, for example from the Internal Drainage Board. You do not need to provide this with your application, but you will need to submit any consents with your payment claim.

The detailed requirements for this item will be tailored to the Higher Tier site. Higher Tier applicants should discuss and agree these requirements with their adviser.

Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item

The following section gives advice on carrying out this item successfully but does not form part of the requirements for this item.

Use this item on drains, ditches and minor watercourses of appropriate, relatively small size. Use ‘like for like’ materials if replacing an existing timber sluice.

Further information

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

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 10 March 2017 + show all updates

  1. Updated for 2017 applications.

  2. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  3. First published.

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