TE5: Supplement for use of individual tree-shelters
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the supplement for use of individual tree-shelters item.
How much will be paid
£2.43 per unit.
Where to use this item
It’s available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, Mid Tier, and Capital Grants:
- only with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) approval for planting tree shelter belts or pig/poultry free ranging areas for improving air quality)
- only on woodland and CS Capital Grants as a supplement to the tree planting capital item TE4
Where this item cannot be used
On its own or with any other option, supplement or item other than item TE4.
How this item will benefit the environment
It provides tree shelters to protect young, establishing trees from damage by browsing animals.
Requirements
You must:
- put up a tree shelter immediately after the tree is planted
- make sure each shelter is flush with the ground to keep out small animals such as mice and voles
- secure each shelter with a 25 millimetres (mm) by 25mm wooden stake, placed in an upright position
- check shelters regularly, maintaining them until the tree or shrub is established
- design and support shelters so they last for at least 5 years
- dispose or recycle shelters and stakes according to relevant waste disposal regulations
The shelter protects trees from grazing animals and the height of the animal determines which shelter to use, for example for:
- roe, muntjac or chinese water deer use 1.2m shelters
- fallow, red or sika deer use 1.8m shelters
- hares and rabbits use 1.2m tree shelter or smaller if available
Keeping records
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
The detailed requirements for this item will be tailored to the planting site. If you are applying for Higher Tier, you should discuss and agree these requirements with your adviser.
Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Mid Tier, Higher Tier or Capital Grants guidance for more detail. You can find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.
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 and Capital Grants including how to apply.
Updates to this page
Last updated 7 November 2023 + show all updates
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Removal of text confirming TE5 Supplement for use of individual tree-shelters availability under Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot), as the SFI Capital offer is no longer available.
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Removed reference to item being available for the Hedgerows standard in the SFI pilot.
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'Where to use this item' section updated to include detail on SFI pilot.
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Option updated for Capital Grants agreements starting from 9 February 2021, and Higher Tier and Mid Tier agreements starting from 1 January 2022.
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Page updated to show latest record keeping
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Updated for 2017 applications.
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Information updated for applications in 2016.
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First published.