BN10: Hedgerow supplement - top binding and staking

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the hedgerow supplement - top binding and staking 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, Priority habitats 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 

£5.82 per metre (m). The payment rate is for the total length of hedgerow under the supplement, not for each side of the boundary. 

How this supplement benefits the environment

When used with hedge laying, binding and staking hedgerows will strengthen them allowing them to rejuvenate with new growth to form a continuous hedgerow. This will help control livestock and create habitat for pollinators and birds. 

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

Where you can use this supplement

You can use this supplement where you have management control of both sides of the boundary on hedgerows being restored using capital item BN5: Hedgerow laying.

What you must do to use this supplement

You must use:

• stakes made of straight and clean lengths of hazel, ash or sweet chestnut
• binders made of straight lengths of hazel, ash or willow (with no side shoots)

Evidence you must keep 

You must keep photographs of completed work and provide with your claim.

You must also keep and supply 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 hedge entered into the supplement

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 supplements you can use with this supplement

You can also use this item with these supplements:

BN8: Hedgerow supplement - casting up

BN9: Hedgerow supplement - substantial pre-work

Advice to help you use this supplement

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

This supplement strengthens laid hedgerows. You should only use this item where the local style of hedge laying includes binding and staking.

For example, the local style of hedge laying typical in:

• the Midlands
• south of England
• Welsh borders

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

1. 3 February 2025

   General improvement for clarity.

2. 6 November 2023

   Removal of text confirming Hedgerow supplement - top binding and staking availability under Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot), as the SFI Capital offer is no longer available.

3. 1 February 2022

   'Where to use this supplement' section updated to include detail on SFI pilot Hedgerows standard.

4. 9 March 2021

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

5. 1 February 2021

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

6. 29 March 2016

   Information updated for applications in 2016.

7. 2 April 2015

   First published.