BN12: Stone wall restoration

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the stone wall restoration item.

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
2 April 2015
Last updated
5 January 2023 — See all updates
Grant type:
Capital item
Land use:
Biodiversity, Boundaries, Uplands, Water quality and Woodland
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier, Mid Tier and Standalone capital items
Funding (per unit per year):
Up to £100

How much will be paid

£31.91 per metre (m). The payment rate is for the total length of boundary under the option (not for each side of the boundary).

Where to use this item

It is available on walls where at least one-third of the original height has to be dismantled and rebuilt in order to complete the restoration as part of Countryside Stewardship:

  • Mid Tier
  • Higher Tier
  • Capital Grants
  • Woodland tree health (restoration)
  • Can only be used when the applicant has “management control” of both sides of the boundary.

Where this item cannot be used

On walls that are in receipt of stone wall protection and maintenance (EB11) or stone wall protection and maintenance on or above the moorland line (UB11) under live ELS or UELS agreements.

How this item will benefit the environment

There will be a rebuilt stone wall which will help to control livestock and conserve traditional landscapes.

Requirements

You must:

  • rebuild walls to their original height in the local style - refer to the height and style of other stone walls nearby that are in good condition
  • dismantle (by hand) the existing structure back to a sound construction
  • rebuild the wall so there is an even top line, a consistent batter (slope), and no bulges or depressions along the face of the wall
  • add a filling of solid rocks with each course where it is part of the traditional construction
  • keep all existing wall-side trees and saplings. A wall-side tree is one that forms part of the boundary feature or is attached to it such that livestock do not pass between it and the wall (where relevant)
  • make stockproof (with wooden rails) any gaps left in the wall to allow for tree growth
  • rebuild stone features into the wall such as sheep creeps, troughs and stiles, where features existed prior to the stone wall restoration
  • use original stone where it is available
  • make sure imported stone matches the ones traditional to the area in type, size and style
  • haul stone only when ground conditions are firm enough to prevent damage to the fields next to the wall
  • remove any leftover materials used to complete the wall from the site, and restore the ground where you have carried out the work

Do not:

  • disturb foundation stones unless it is necessary to create a firm base
  • use topsoil, earth, sand or fine gravel as filling between courses
  • use concrete or mortar
  • take stone from other walls, banks or buildings on the holding
  • place stone on features of archaeological, historic or wildlife value as identified on the Farm Environment Record (FER), Environmental Information Map or Historic Environment Farm Environmental Record (HEFER) (where applicable)

Keeping records

You must send the following with your application:

  • a map showing the location of any wall-side trees, saplings and stone features (this can be the FER)

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 each length of wall to be restored before work starts

Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Mid Tier, Higher Tier, Capital Grants or Woodland tree health 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 items:

Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item

The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.

Choose the right style for the wall

Restore the wall so that it matches the stone types and wall styles in the immediate area. There can be distinctive local variations, often in relatively small areas. The style is determined by the composition, shape and size of the stone used and the way it can be split and shaped. Using the right type of stone will make sure that you can match the required style.

Restoring the wall

You should:

  • dismantle the existing structure by hand, separating and sorting copings (covering stones), through stones and building stones for reuse
  • lay stones level and pack under each one so that it will not move
  • if using filling, always bring up the level of the middle of the wall for each course before going to the next one - it should not be possible to see daylight through the wall
  • place through stones where the wall is double-faced (they cannot stick out more than 15 centimetres (cm), so weight and stresses are spread evenly
  • place stones next to each other so they touch as much as possible, covering joints below as you build (for example 1 stone on 2, then 2 stones on 1)
  • place each stone with its length reaching well into the wall, not along the outside
  • pack coping stones (stones placed along the top of the wall, ‘capping’ it) as firmly as possible to tie the whole wall together
  • finish the entrances and wall ends with a well-built cheek end

The sides of the wall should slant evenly on both sides, creating an even ‘batter’ from a wide base to a narrower top of the wall. Avoid creating bulges as it weakens the wall and may cause collapse.

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, Capital Grants and Woodland tree health including how to apply.

Updates to this page

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 5 January 2023 + show all updates

  1. The Requirements section of this page has been updated

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

  3. The Requirements and Keeping records sections of this page have been updated

  4. Updated for 2017 applications.

  5. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  6. First published.

Contents

Related content