BN9: Hedgerow supplement - substantial pre-work

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the hedgerow supplement - substantial pre-work item.

• From: Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
• Published: 2 April 2015
• Last updated: 9 March 2021 — See all updates

• Grant type: Capital item
• Land use: Boundaries, Priority habitats and Uplands
• Tiers or standalone items: Higher Tier
• Funding (per unit per year): Up to £100

How much will be paid

£7.06 per metre (m). The payment rate is for the total length of boundary under the option (not for each side of the boundary).

Where to use this supplement

Available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier.

Only on:

• hedgerows being restored using the following options:

  • BN5 - Hedgerow laying
  • BN6 - Hedgerow coppicing
  • BN7 - Hedgerow gapping-up
  • BN11 - Planting new hedges

• hedgerows which:

  • have extensive bramble, elder or brash that needs removing
  • are more than 5m wide after the previous season’s growth is removed
  • are on a slope of more than 20 degrees

• can only be used when the applicant has “management control” of both sides of the boundary.

Where this supplement cannot be used

To:

• remove old fences within hedgerows
• remove free-standing fences alongside hedgerows
• undertake weed control
• undertake routine preparation before gapping-up or planting

How this supplement will benefit the environment

If successful, lengths of restored hedgerow which required substantial pre-work or were located on difficult sites will be restored.

Requirements

Agreement holders are likely to need to:

• carry out the work agreed with Natural England
• compete the associated hedge restoration item to the relevant specification

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 each length of hedge entered into the supplement
• supply item specification if required

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.

Related items

This supplement can be used on the same length as the following items and supplements:

• BN5 - Hedgerow laying
• BN6 - Hedgerow coppicing
• BN7 - Hedgerow gapping-up
• BN8 - Hedgerow supplement - casting up
• BN10 - Hedgerow supplement - top binding and staking
• BN11 - Planting new hedges

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.

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 9 March 2021 + show all updates

1. 9 March 2021

   Updated Where to use this item and how much will be paid.

2. 8 March 2017

   Updated for 2017 applications.

3. 29 March 2016

   Information updated for applications in 2016.

4. 2 April 2015

   First published.