GovWire

How much will be paid

2.43 per unit.

Where to use this item

Its available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, Mid Tier, and Capital Grants:

• only with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) approval for planting tree shelter belts or pig/poultry free ranging areas for improving air quality)
• only on woodland and CS Capital Grants as a supplement to the tree planting capital item TE4

It is also available for Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot) as a supplement to the tree planting capital item TE4 without Catchment Sensitive Farming approval to help you undertake actions in the following SFI pilot standards:

• Farm woodland standard, but only if you locate the tree TE4 it on arable land or improved grassland used for the optional Expand your woodland action

Where this item cannot be used

On its own or with any other option, supplement or item other than item TE4.

How this item will benefit the environment

It provides tree shelters to protect young, establishing trees from damage by browsing animals.

Requirements

You must:

• put up a tree shelter immediately after the tree is planted
• make sure each shelter is flush with the ground to keep out small animals such as mice and voles
• secure each shelter with a 25 millimetres (mm) by 25mm wooden stake, placed in an upright position
• check shelters regularly, maintaining them until the tree or shrub is established
• design and support shelters so they last for at least 5 years
• dispose or recycle shelters and stakes according to relevant waste disposal regulations

The shelter protects trees from grazing animals and the height of the animal determines which shelter to use, for example for:

• roe, muntjac or chinese water deer use 1.2m shelters
• fallow, red or sika deer use 1.8m shelters
• hares and rabbits use 1.2m tree shelter or smaller if available

Keeping records

You must 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

The detailed requirements for this item will be tailored to the planting site. If you are applying for Higher Tier, you should discuss and agree these requirements with your adviser.

Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Mid Tier, Higher Tier or 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.

Biodiversity

This item has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holdings situation and potential.

The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.

Further information

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