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: 3 February 2025 — 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

This item is part of Capital Grants. You must read the Capital items: guidance for applicants and agreement holders to understand the rules and how to apply.

How much you’ll be paid 

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

How this item benefits the environment

Restoring an earth bank provides a valuable habitat for wildlife and conserves a traditional landscape.

This item can help you protect, recover and improve biodiversity on your land.

Where you can use this item 

You can use this item:

• where you have management control of each side of the boundary
• on a length of earth bank that need rebuilding to restore to its original height

You cannot use this item:

• if you have received funding in the last 7 years to maintain the earth bank
• with Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) management action BND2: Maintain earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks

What you must do to use this item

You must:

• restore the bank to reflect the style and profile of other banks in a good condition locally
• rebuild the bank using the original soil that has slipped from it
• build up moist soil in consolidated layers, allowing it to settle at each stage to make sure it’s stable
• 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 there’s a slight slope (‘batter’) with a base approximately 0.5m wider than the top
• take the turf up to the full height of the new bank if local banks are faced with turf
• finish off the top with loose soil or turf (unless a hedge is being planted)
• make sure the top line of the bank is parallel to 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
• restore any stiles and gates to their original construction
• remove any surplus earth-fill and stones from the site when you have finished and restore any ground you have disturbed

You must 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’re derelict)
• disturb healthy trees
• damage the roots of trees growing on the bank with machinery

Evidence you must keep 

You must keep photographs during and after work has been completed and provide with your claim.

You must also keep and provide 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 this item

Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants for more information.

Items and actions you can use with this item

You can use this item with these items:

BN5: Hedgerow laying

BN6: Hedgerow coppicing

BN7: Hedgerow gapping-up

BN11: Planting new hedges

TE1: Planting standard hedgerow tree

Sustainable Farming Incentive actions

You can use this item with these actions: 

CHRW1: Assess and record hedgerow condition

CHRW2: Manage hedgerows

CHRW3: Maintain or establish hedgerow trees

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions

You can use this item with  CHRW4: Manage hedgerows 

Advice to help you use this item

The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements. 

When you have completed the restoration, you may be able to apply to SFI action BND2: Maintain earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks to maintain it.

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 3 February 2025 + show all updates

1. 3 February 2025

   Amended item - not eligible for SFI action BND1: Maintain dry stone walls.

2. 9 March 2021

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

3. 1 February 2021

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

4. 7 March 2017

   Updated for 2017 applications.

5. 29 March 2016

   Information updated for applications in 2016.

6. 2 April 2015

   First published.