BN4: Earth bank restoration

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the earth bank restoration item.

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
2 April 2015
Last updated
9 March 2021 — See all updates
Grant type:
Capital item
Land use:
Biodiversity, Boundaries and Uplands
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier, Mid Tier and Standalone capital items
Funding (per unit per year):
Up to £100

How much will be paid

£10.54 per metre (m). The payment rate is for the total length of boundary under the option (not for each side of the boundary).

Where to use this item

Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Grants.

  • Only on lengths of earth bank that need to be rebuilt to their original height.
  • Can only be used when the applicant has “management control” of both sides of the boundary.

How this item will benefit the environment

If successful there will be a length of rebuilt earth bank which will conserve and enhance landscape character and provide a valuable wildlife habitat.

Requirements

  • restore the bank to reflect the style and profile of other banks in a good condition nearby
  • rebuild the bank using original soil that has slipped from it
  • build up moist soil in consolidated layers, allowing it to settle at each stage to ensure stability
  • use subsoil and small stones for the lower layers and topsoil with no stones for the upper layers
  • build each face of the bank so that it slopes inwards (approximately 0.3m for every 1m in height), to create a ‘batter’ (slope)
  • make the base of the bank wider than the top by roughly 45cm to 60cm on each side
  • take turves up to the full height of the new bank in areas where existing banks are faced with turves
  • finish off the top with loose soil or turf (unless a hedge is being planted)
  • make sure the top line of the bank is level with the ground
  • finish the ends of the bank at gateways with turfing or stone facing, and protect it from being damaged by livestock and machinery
  • make sure that no healthy mature trees are disturbed
  • restore any stiles and gates to their original construction
  • remove any surplus earth-fill and stones from the site after the work has been completed and restore the ground around it

Do not:

  • block or restrict access to open access land
  • carry out work between 1 March and 31 August if the bank is topped by a hedge
  • remove soil from other banks, even if they are derelict
  • damage the roots of trees growing on the bank with machinery

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 each length of earth bank entered into the item

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.

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

  • photographs during and after work has been completed

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 holding’s 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.

Updates to this page

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 9 March 2021 + show all updates

  1. Updated Where to use this item and how much will be paid.

  2. Added in links to Capital Grants manual as this option is now available for Capital Grants

  3. Updated for 2017 applications.

  4. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  5. First published.

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