BC4 Tree Guard Post and wire

Find out about eligibility requirements for beaver protection infrastructure item

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
5 July 2022
Last updated
5 June 2024 — See all updates
Grant type:
Capital item
Tiers or standalone items:
Standalone capital items
Funding (per unit per year):
Up to £100

Aim

To protect specific individual trees that are prioritised as having commercial, amenity or ornamental value to avoid damage caused by beaver activity.

How much will be paid

£132.16 per tree guard

Where to use this item (eligibility)

  • There must be evidence of beaver activity within the catchment area to be protected.
  • The tree(s) must have a commercial, amenity or ornamental value. An ornamental tree, is a tree that is grown only for aesthetic value, for its beautiful appearance and not for harvest of fruit or wood for commercial gain.
  • The tree(s) must be within 100 metres of a water body or watercourse where beavers are foraging or there is a strong likelihood of foraging.

Where this item cannot be used

  • On historic or archaeological features as identified in the Historic Environment Farm Environment Records (HEFER).

How this item will benefit the environment

This item helps manage the foraging effects of beavers and protects valued trees.

Requirements

You must:

  • Remove old material before erecting new or, where this has been fenced previously and is still within the ex-post requirements, attach new guard to old guard.
  • Use at least 2 stakes, at least 0.5 metres apart.
  • One stake must be at least 1.5 metres high and the other 0.5 metres high.
  • Use galvanised weld mesh of thickness 1.8 – 2.5 millimetres (15-12 wire gauge), mesh 50 millimetres x 50 millimetres, height 900 millimetres.
  • To prevent the trunk rubbing against the metal, either bend the vertical strands of wire mesh so they face outwards; or push a piece of rubber tubing split lengthways on to the top of the wire circle.
  • The wire mesh must be flush with the ground.
  • The wire mesh must cover buttress roots, which may need additional lengths of wire to be attached to the lower edge of the coil around the tree.
  • Leave a minimum gap of 0.25 metres from the trunk.
  • Obtain required permissions and comply with existing legislation. Some activities in and/or near rivers which could affect rivers and flood risk may need permission from environmental regulators. You may need a permit or consent from the relevant Flood Risk Management Authority (RMA). Further advice for activities and who to contact can be found on GOV.UK.

You must not:

  • attach the wire mesh directly to the tree
  • attach guards so that they rub against, constrict, or damage the tree in any other way
  • use lighter gauge material or chicken wire, it may not be effective
  • use electric fencing
  • block or restrict access to open access land.

Keeping records

You must send the following with your application:

  • Photograph of the tree to be protected
  • Map to confirm location of the tree to be protected
  • Any relevant permits or consents from the relevant Flood Risk Management Authority (RMA).

You must keep the following records and supply them with your payment claim:

  • Photograph of completed works
  • Receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
  • Consents or permissions connected with work
  • Information of the tree species and it’s commercial, amenity or ornamental value.

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

You can use this item alongside the following standalone capital items:

  • BC3 – Crop protection mesh wire fencing for permanent crops

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

Updates to this page

Published 5 July 2022
Last updated 5 June 2024 + show all updates

  1. Decreased payment from £136.16 to £132.16

  2. Payment per tree guard increased to £136.16 in 'how much will be paid' section.

  3. First published.

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