FG17: Deer vehicle gate

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the Deer vehicle gate option.

• From: Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
• Published: 9 February 2021
• Last updated: 3 February 2025 — See all updates

• Grant type: Capital item
• Land use: Woodland
• Tiers or standalone items: Higher Tier and Standalone capital items
• Funding (per unit per year): More than £500

This item is part of Higher Tier Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Capital Grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.

How much you’ll be paid 

£749.63 per gate.

How this item benefits the environment

It protects trees from deer browsing and damage. It also helps manage deer on your land.

Where you can use this item 

You can use this item either:

• within a woodland where deer fencing is the agreed method of protection (with approval from a Forestry Commission adviser)
• as part of a Woodland Tree Health grant

You cannot use this item:

• where deer fencing is not an appropriate protection measure
• with a temporary deer fence

What you must do to use this item

You must:

• meet Forestry Commission’s fence specifications
• ensure the gate is a minimum of 3 metres (m) wide – do not use the hanging posts as an end strainer
• install hanging posts following Forestry Commission’s fence specifications and make sure they’re suitably compacted – there must be no gaps at the bottom of the gate that are wider than the mesh sizes
• maintain the gates so deer cannot enter the land until the trees no longer require protection

Hanging post dimensions must be a minimum of:

• 2.8m by 120 to 180 millimetres (mm) diameter for Red, Sika and Fallow deer
• 2.8m by 100 to 130mm for Roe and Muntjac deer

You must also use the following specifications for the height of the gate and the size of the mesh (minimum gate height (in m) and maximum mesh size (in mm)):

• Red and Sika 1.8m, 200mm by 300mm
• Fallow 1.8m, 200mm by 220mm
• Roe 1.5m, 200mm by 150mm
• Muntjac 1.5m, 80mm by 80m

When to use wooden wings for gates

You can use wooden wings to make sure the gates are deer proof for the full width of a gap where necessary. For example, where a gateway is adjacent to a ditch. These are only likely necessary where they’re already a feature of the landscape. You should make sure each wing consists of rails or fencing mesh meets Forestry Commission’s standards.

Evidence you must keep 

You must keep and provide on request:

• receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• any consents or permissions connected with the work

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.

Other items you can use with this item

You can use this item with these items:

FY1:Deer high seat

FY6: Restore coppicing in woodland

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. 

Contact your local Forestry Commission adviser for more advice.

Published 9 February 2021
Last updated 3 February 2025 + show all updates

1. 3 February 2025

   General improvement for clarity.

2. 7 November 2023

   Removal of text confirming FG17 Deer vehicle gate availability under Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot), as the SFI Capital offer is no longer available.

3. 8 February 2022

   'Where to use this item' section updated to include detail on SFI pilot.

4. 9 February 2021

   First published.