WB1: Small wildlife box

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the small wildlife box 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, Uplands and Pollinators and wildlife
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  

£11.95 per box. 

How this item benefits the environment 

Installing a small wildlife box provides artificial nesting, roosting and hibernation sites for specific mammals, birds and invertebrates. 

Where you can use this item  

You can use this item to provide a wildlife box either: 

  • for the target species dormouse, tree sparrows, targeted bat species or invertebrate pollinators  
  • for other target species with the support of a Natural England, Buglife or the Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) adviser 
  • where there’s summer and winter foraging habitat available all year for the target species on or near your land  

What you must do to use this item 

You must: 

  • place each box in an appropriate location 
  • clean out the boxes in the autumn, unless it’s being used by hibernating or roosting bats 

Evidence you must keep  

You must keep photographs of the completed work and provide them 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 the proposed site for each box 
  • a record of the date you clean out the boxes (unless they’re used by bats or invertebrates) 

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. 

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.    

Locating boxes for different species 

Boxes for all species should be kept in their original location if they’re being used. If they are not being used after year 3, ask Natural England for relocation advice.  

Strap boxes to trees with wire and hose or rubber to prevent tree damage.   

Dormice boxes 

Boxes should be: 

  • in ancient woodlands or large hedgerows – avoid isolated trees 
  • in batches of at least 10 (ideally over 50), spaced 10 metres (m) to 20m with around 30 boxes per hectare 
  • 1.5m to 2m above the ground (over 3m if the public have access) 
  • away from footpaths 
  • made of untreated timber 
  • based on the Peoples’ Trust for Endangered Species box construction guidance 

Tree sparrow boxes 

Boxes should be: 

  • in farm buildings or hedgerow trees, ideally near permanent water such as ponds 
  • away from bird feeders or places cats and squirrels can easily access (with a secure lid) 
  • out of the sun for at least part of day 
  • weatherproof with small drainage holes in the floor 
  • made from wood at least 15 millimetres (mm) thick with a 28mm entrance hole – follow the RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology guidance 

Bat boxes 

Boxes should be: 

  • large enough for a maternity colony to cluster to conserve heat 
  • dry, rainproof and draught-free, with no gaps where the sides and top join 
  • entered by a slit at the base (front or back) no more than 15mm to 20mm wide – follow the Bat Conservation Trust guidance 
  • preservative-free if made of wood 
  • out of the midday sun 
  • close to a hedgerow or tree line 
  • placed with other boxes facing in different directions to offer a range of temperature conditions   

Solitary bee boxes 

Boxes should be: 

  • in a dry, sunny and sheltered position on farm buildings, a post or freestanding with a raised base to prevent rising damp 
  • near pollen and nectar forage 
  • 50 centimetres (cm) by 50cm and 20cm deep, open fronted but with a back 
  • made of untreated timber 
  • weatherproof with small drainage holes in the floor 
  • contain at least 4 compartments, packed tightly with drilled hardwood blocks, bamboo stem sections and reed stems or paper drinking straws 

Keep the box in its original location if it’s being used. If it is not being used after year 3, ask Natural England for relocation advice. Strap boxes to trees with wire and hose or rubber to prevent tree damage.   

Protected species 

Bats and their roosts are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It’s an offence to disturb, handle or kill bats. Anyone who inspects bat boxes that have been or are being used by bats needs a licence from Natural England.

Updates to this page

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

  1. General improvement for clarity.

  2. Removal of text confirming WB1 Small wildlife box availability under Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot), as the SFI Capital offer is no longer available.

  3. The 'Where to use this item' and 'Requirements' sections of this item have been updated.

  4. 'Where to use this item' section updated to include detail on SFI pilot. 'Additional guidance and advice section added to explain this option can form part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases.

  5. Also available in Higher Tier

  6. Updated for 2017 applications.

  7. Information updated for applications in 2016.2016

  8. First published.

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