FG2: Sheep netting

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

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 9 February 2021 — see all updates
From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Grant type:
Capital item
Land use:
Grassland, Livestock management, Priority habitats, Uplands, Water quality, Woodland
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier, Mid Tier, Standalone capital items
Funding (per unit per year):
Up to £100

How much will be paid

£4.90 per metre (m).

Where to use this item

It is available for Mid Tier, Higher Tier, Capital Grants and Woodland Creation grants if one of the following apply

  • in conjunction with a habitat management or creation option
  • in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution caused by farming
  • to protect environmental features

You can also use with TE5 for Woodland Creation grants where appropriate and agreed with a Forestry Commission Woodland Officer.

Where this item cannot be used

  • On historic or archaeological features as identified in the Historic Environment Farm Environment Records (HEFER)
  • On a site where a fence has previously received a grant

How this item will benefit the environment

This item protects environmental features from livestock and helps manage habitats.

Requirements

You must:

  • remove all old fencing material before putting up the new fencing
  • use softwood timber that is fully peeled, coated with wood preservative and pressure treated, or treated with an approved preservative - untreated durable timber can be used as set out in the Forestry Commission guide to forest fencing
  • put up a steel wire mesh fence at least 1.05m high
  • use additional strands of galvanised steel wire (plain or barbed) if you need extra height
  • use straining posts that have a top diameter of at least 125 millimetre (mm), or are 100 by 100mm in cross-section when sawn
  • make sure the straining posts are 1.85m long if set in concrete and 2.15m long otherwise
  • 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 75mm by 75mm when sawn
  • make sure the struts are 1.6m if set in concrete and 1.9m long otherwise
  • 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 75mm 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 you use meet the relevant British Standards - see copies of the most up-to-date standards for guidance

Do not:

Keeping records

You must keep the following records and supply them with your payment claim:

  • photographs of the completed work

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
  • photographs of the site before work starts

Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant manual Mid Tier, Higher Tier, Capital Grants or Woodland Creation manual for more detail.

You can use this item on the same feature as the following supplement:

Further information

See the Mid Tier, Higher Tier, Capital Grants or Woodland Creation manual to find out more about the scheme and how to apply.

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

  1. Added in links to Capital Grants manual as this option is now available for Capital Grants

  2. Page updated to show latest record keeping

  3. Capital item now includes woodland.

  4. Updated for 2017 applications.

  5. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  6. First published.

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