Guidance

Sheep netting (FG2): Woodland capital grants 2015

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the sheep netting capital item.

This guidance was withdrawn on

This page has been withdrawn because it’s out of date. For current information read: FG2: Sheep netting

Applies to England

Foresters and other land managers can apply for woodland capital grants.

Read the accompanying guidance to find out more about Countryside Stewardship woodland capital grants 2015.

How much will be paid

£4.90 per metre.  

Where the item is available

This item is available in woodlands.

It can only be used on sites that need new fencing to:

  • meet grazing requirements

  • address water pollution caused by farming in targeted priority areas and catchments

  • protect environmental features

  • protect newly planted trees

When this item can’t be used

This item can’t be used:

  • on historic or archaeological features

  • on a site where a fence has previously received a grant

How this item will benefit the environment

This item will protect environmental features from livestock. It will also help to manage habitats.

Requirements

On the land

Successful applicants will need to:

  • remove all old fencing material before putting up the new fencing

  • use softwood timber that’s fully peeled and tanalised, or treated with an approved preservative

  • put up a steel wire mesh fence at least 1.05m high

  • use additional strands of galvanised steel wire (plain or barbed) if extra height is needed

  • use straining posts that have a top diameter of at least 125mm top diameter, or are 100 by 100mm in cross-section when sawn

  • make sure the straining posts are 1.85m if they’re set in concrete and 2.15m long if they aren’t

  • place the straining posts no more than 150m apart if using mild steel line wire, or 300m apart for high tensile wire

  • use a straining post at every change of direction (horizontal or vertical) and at each end of the fence

  • use struts that have a top diameter of at least 80mm, or are 75 by 75mm when sawn

  • make sure the struts are 1.6m if they’re set in concrete and 1.9m long if they aren’t

  • notch struts into the straining post at an angle of no more than 45 degrees

  • use intermediate posts that have a top diameter of at least 65mm, or are 75 by 75mm when sawn

  • make sure the intermediate posts are 1.7m long and space them no further than 3.5m apart  

  • make sure that all the materials being used meet the relevant British Standards

Keeping records

Successful applicants will need to keep:

  • consents associated with the work, and show them on request

  • geotagged photographs of the area before and after completion of the work (these will need to be submitted with any claim)

  • any receipted invoices and bank statements related to the work (these must be shown on request)

What must not be done

Do not:

  • attach the fence to trees or hedgerows

  • block or restrict access to open access land

The following supplements can be used on the same feature as this item:

Updates to this page

Published 17 February 2015

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