TE12: Stump grinding

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the stump grinding item.

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
2 April 2015
Last updated
29 March 2016 — See all updates
Grant type:
Capital item
Land use:
Priority habitats, Trees (non-woodland), Uplands and Vegetation control
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier
Funding (per unit per year):
Up to £100

How much will be paid

£96 per stump.

Where to use this item

Available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier

Only in conjunction with a management or restoration option where approved by a Natural England adviser.

How this item will benefit the environment

It is used to support habitat restoration and management by removing tree stumps that would otherwise restrict access for restoration or management works.

If successful stumps will have been cleared, there will be little or no ground disturbance and wood chippings will have been removed.

Requirements

  • grind individual tree stumps down to ground level or below
  • clean up the site after the works, including removal of wood chippings

Do not:

  • allow works, including access routes, to compact soil

Keeping records

Agreement holders will need to 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 stumps before works start

Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Higher Tier guidance for more detail. You can find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them with the claim:

  • photographs of the completed work

The detailed requirements for this item will be tailored to the Higher Tier site. Higher Tier applicants should discuss and agree these requirements with their adviser.

Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item

The following section gives advice on carrying out this item successfully but does not form part of the requirements for this item.

This item is only to be used where tree stumps are restricting access to the site for habitat restoration and management. It cannot be used for general tidying up where there is no impediment to the management of the site.

The objective is to clear stumps to ground level with minimum impact on the soil. Occasionally there may be a reason to grind stumps below ground level leaving a depression. Any such depressions can often be left - there are usually good reasons for not moving soil from elsewhere. Applicants must discuss and agree any infilling with soil with Natural England.

Wood chippings may occasionally be used as a mulch provided this has been agreed with a Natural England adviser.

Further information

Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Higher Tier including how to apply.

Updates to this page

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 29 March 2016 + show all updates

  1. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  2. First published.

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