Guidance

Fencing (FG1): Woodland capital grants 2015

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the fencing capital item.

This guidance was withdrawn on

This page has been withdrawn because it’s out of date. For current information read: FG1: Fencing

Applies to England

Foresters and other land managers can apply for woodland capital grants.

Read the accompanying guidance to find out more about Countryside Stewardship woodland capital grants 2015.

How much will be paid

£4 per metre.

Where the item is available

This item is available in woodland.

It can only be used on sites that need new fencing to:

  • meet grazing requirements

  • protect environmental features

  • protect newly planted trees

When this item can’t be used

It can’t be used:

  • on historic or archaeological features

  • on a site where a fence has previously received a grant

How this item will benefit the environment

This item will protect environmental features from livestock. It will also help habitat management.

Requirements

On the land

Successful applicants will need to:

  • remove all old fencing material before putting up the new fencing

  • only use softwood timber that is fully peeled and treated with an approved preservative, or peeled, coated with an approved preservative and pressure treated. Untreated durable timber can be used as set out in the Forestry Commissions guide to forest fencing.

  • put up a fence at least 1.05m high

  • use strands of galvanised 4mm mild plain steel wire or 2.5mm barbed wire

  • use enough strands to control the livestock

  • use straining posts that are at least 125 by 125mm square, or have a 100mm top diameter, and at least 1.87m long

  • set the straining posts at least 750mm into the ground and no more than 150m apart

  • place a straining post at every change of direction (horizontal or vertical) and at each end of the fence

  • use struts that are 75 by 75mm square, or have a 65mm top diameter, and 1.87m long

  • set the struts at least 450mm into the ground and mortice them into the straining post

  • use intermediate posts that are 75 by 75 mm square, or have a 65mm top diameter, and 1.75m long

  • set the intermediate posts at least 600 mm in the ground and no more than 3.5m apart

  • make sure that all the materials being used meet the relevant British Standards

Keeping records

Successful applicants will need to keep:

  • any consents associated with the work (these must be shown on request)

  • geotagged photographs of the area before and after completion of the work (these will need to be submitted with any claim)

  • any receipted invoices and bank statements related to the work (these must be shown on request)

What must not be done

Do not:

  • attach the fence to trees or hedgerows

  • block or restrict access to open access land

The following options and supplements can be used with this item:

Published 17 February 2015