FG1: Fencing

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the fencing item.

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
2 April 2015
Last updated
12 August 2024 — See all updates
Grant type:
Capital item
Land use:
Air quality, Biodiversity, Grassland, Livestock management, Priority habitats, Uplands, Water quality, Woodland
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier, Mid Tier, Standalone capital items
Funding (per unit per year):
Up to £100

How much will be paid

£6.34 per metre (m).

Where to use this item

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier if one of the following apply:

  • in conjunction with a habitat management or creation option where new fencing is required to meet the option grazing requirements
  • to prevent water pollution caused by farming (approval from Catchment Sensitive Farming is not required nor does the parcel need to be in a High Priority area for water quality)
  • to protect environmental features (for example newly planted trees, buffer strips and field corners taken out of management) or as agreed with the Forestry Commission Woodland Officer

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants and Woodland Tree health:

  • to prevent water pollution caused by farming (approval from Catchment Sensitive Farming is not required nor does the parcel need to be in a High Priority area for water quality)
  • to protect environmental features (for example newly planted trees, buffer strips and field corners taken out of management) or as agreed with the Forestry Commission Woodland Officer

Where this item cannot be used

  • on historic or archaeological features as identified in the Historic Environment Farm Environment Records (HEFER)
  • on a site where a fence has received a grant in the last 7 years

How this item will benefit the environment

This item helps control livestock, protects environmental features and helps to manage habitats.

Requirements

For new agreements you must:

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

For wooden posts you must:

  • use softwood timber that is fully peeled, coated with wood preservative and pressure treated, or treated with an HSE approved industrial wood preservative (to comply with Use Class 4 as defined in BS8417:2014 ‘ ‘Preservation of Wood – Code of Practice’. Untreated durable timber can be used as set out in the Forestry Commission guide to forest fencing. As an alternative to wooden fence posts, you can use metal fence posts. For Higher Tier you should agree this with your Natural England Adviser or Forestry Commission Woodland Officer
  • erect a fence at least 1.05 m high when installed. Use strands of galvanised 4 mm mild steel plain or 2.5 mm barbed wire. The use of high tensile wire is also permitted at a minimum of 2.5mm diameter. Use sufficient strands to control the livestock.
  • use straining posts that are at least 125 x 125mm square (or have a 125mm top diameter) and are at least 2.1m long
  • set the straining posts no more than 150m apart if using mild steel or 600m apart for high tensile wire
  • place a straining post at every change of direction (horizontal or vertical) and at each end of the fence, with suitable bracing required to achieve stability
  • use struts that are at least 75mm by 75mm square, or have at least a 75mm top diameter, and are at least 2.1 long. You can use a box strainer with, or instead of, a strut
  • mortise struts into the straining post at an angle of no more than 45 degrees. Do not secure by a nail alone
  • use intermediate posts that are at least 75 x 75mm square (or have at least a 65mm top diameter) and are at least 1.65m long
  • set the intermediate posts no more than 3.5m apart for mild steel, and 4.5 metres for high tensile steel
  • make sure that all work meets the relevant British Standards - see copies of the most up-to-date standards for guidance

You can use any type of metal post, but they must be suitable for the site and be durable for 5 years from the start of your agreement.

For metal posts you must:

  • use straining posts which are at least 2.4m in length
  • place a straining post at every change of direction (horizontal or vertical) and at each end of the fence
  • use intermediate posts at least 1.65m long
  • struts should be at least 2.1m long
  • attach struts to posts using a suitable connector
  • erect a fence at least 1.05 m high when installed. Use strands of galvanised 4 mm mild steel plain or 2.5 mm barbed wire. The use of high tensile wire is also permitted at a minimum of 2.5mm diameter. Use sufficient strands to control the livestock.

You can install the metal posts according to the installation recommendation of the manufacturer.

Do not:

  • attach the fence to trees or hedgerows
  • block or restrict access to open access land
  • hard staple the wire to intermediate posts. The wire should be a running fit so it can move, contract and expand in different temperatures

If you have an existing agreement, you must continue to follow the specifications in that agreement.

Keeping records

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

  • photographs of the completed work

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
  • photographs of the existing site before work starts

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.

You can use this item on the same length as the following supplement:

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 12 August 2024 + show all updates

  1. One bullet point has been removed from the 'where this item cannot be used' section and multiple points have been removed and replaced throughout the 'requirements' section.

  2. Removal of text confirming FG1 Fencing availability under Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot), as the SFI Capital offer is no longer available.

  3. Update to 'Where to use this option' section, 'Capital grants' sub-section to include protection of environmental features.

  4. Included Farm woodland standard in the list of SFI pilot standards for which the item is available.

  5. The Requirements section of this page has been updated

  6. These requirements apply to agreements with a start date from 2023. For any existing live agreements, you must adhere to the specification as outlined in your agreement.

  7. 'Where to use this item' section updated to include detail on SFI pilot standards. 'Requirements' section has been updated.

  8. Updated Where to use this item

  9. 'Air quality' added to Land use.

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

  11. Page updated to show latest record keeping

  12. Capital item now includes woodland.

  13. Updated for 2017 applications.

  14. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  15. First published.

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