TE7: Tree guard (wood post and rail)
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the tree guard (wood post and rail) item.
This item is part of Capital Grants 2024. You must read the Capital Grants 2024 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.
How much you’ll be paid
£109.64 per guard
Where you can use this item
You can use this item on trees in a land parcel if you’re already using the land parcel for:
- ORH1: Manage traditional orchards
- CHRW2: Manage hedgerows
- WOD1: Manage wood pasture and parkland
You can also use this item when planting in-field agroforestry trees.
Where you cannot use this item
You cannot use this item with:
How this item benefits the environment
This item protects trees from damage caused by grazing animals and wild animals.
What you must do to use this item
You must erect tree guards at least 2m high which have:
- 4 treated timber corner posts
- 5cm diameter top and middle rails
- a bottom rail if grazing animals are likely to get underneath the guard
- posts placed so grazing animals cannot reach within 0.5m of the tree stem
- a single strand of barbed wire along the top rail to prevent animals rubbing against the guard
You must also:
- fasten sheep netting (or 3 strands of taut plain or barbed wire) to the corner posts between the middle and top rails, and between the middle rail and the bottom rail
- use sheep netting instead of barbed wire between the middle rail and the bottom rail if sheep are likely to graze the parcel
- design the tree guard to allow access for formative pruning, applying mulch and clearing vegetation around the base of each tree
You must not:
- fasten guards to the tree
- attach guards so they rub against, constrict or the damage the tree in any other way
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 existing trees to be protected
Please see 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 items and actions you can use with this item
Capital items
You can use this item with:
Updates to this page
Last updated 5 August 2024 + show all updates
-
TBC
-
Updates made to the 'Where to use this item' section.
-
Updated for 2017 applications.
-
Information updated for applications in 2016.
-
First published.