Guidance

Wooden field gate or wooden wings (FG12): Woodland capital grants 2015

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the wooden field gate or wooden wings capital item.

This guidance was withdrawn on

This page has been withdrawn because it’s out of date. For current information read: FG12: Wooden field gate

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

£390 per unit.

Where the item is available

This item can only be used along with a management option, boundary restoration item or tree planting item.

When this item can’t be used

It can’t be used:

  • to place gate posts on historic or archaeological features (unless there is written approval from a specialist)

  • to replace an existing gate or wooden wings

How this item will benefit the environment

Wooden gates

This item helps stock management, or stops livestock from accessing an area where they may cause damage, such as a historic or archaeological feature.

Wooden wings for gates

This item stockproofs ditch crossing points by linking the gate to the ditch edge.

Requirements

Applicants will need to send the following with their application:

  • written permission (if appropriate) from an approved specialist to erect gates or wings on historic sites

Successful applicants will need to follow these requirements for wooden field gates and wooden wings.

Wooden field gate - if the area has a local style

Construct the gate out of timber in a style that’s traditional to the local area.

Wooden field gate - if the area lacks a local style

If there is no local gate style, then construct the gate to the following specifications.

Section Gates up to 3m wide Gates 3m and over wide
Top rail 100mm by 75mm 125mm by 75mm
Top rail tapered to 75mm by 75mm 75mm by 75mm
Under rails 75mm by 25mm 75mm by 25mm
Braces 75mm by 25mm 75mm by 25mm
Hanging style 100mm by 75mm 125mm by 75mm
Shutting style 75mm by 75mm 75mm by 75mm

Wooden field gates - for all styles

Hang and clap the gate separately from an adjoining fence line - don’t use the hanging post as an end strainer.

Successful applicants must then do 1 of the following:

  • set gate posts at least 900mm into the ground and surround with concrete at least:

    • 450mm by 450mm wide

    • 600mm deep

    • erect gate posts without concrete surrounds and set at least 1.1m below the ground surface with the soil compacted around the posts in 150mm layers

The top of the gate posts must be weather capped

Wooden wings for gates

Install wings on both sides of the gate. Each wing must:

  • consist of at least 3 wooden rails fixed between 2 posts - don’t fix the rails to the hanging post of the gate

  • have rails that are at least 38mm by 87mm

  • have posts that are at least:

    • 100mm diameter half round

    • 1.8m long

    • sunk 0.7 m into the ground

Keeping records

Successful applicants will need to keep:

  • any consents connected to the work (these must be shown 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)

How to carry out this item

The following section gives advice on carrying out this item successfully but the advice is not compulsory.

Constructing the gates

Successful applicants should frame the gates soundly and use wooden materials. All gates should match in height with the adjoining fence and be fitted with the appropriate fittings for their operation.

If the gateways need to be widened during wall or bank restoration, or to create a new opening, planning permission may be needed. Consult the national park authority or the local planning authority about hedgerow regulations and any permission needed.

Using wooden wings

Wooden wings can be used to extend the stock proof width of the gate where this is necessary, for example where a gateway is over a culvert or adjacent to a ditch or dyke.

These are only likely to be necessary where they are already a feature of the landscape, such as grazing marshes.

Updates to this page

Published 17 February 2015

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