FG1: Fencing

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the fencing 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

£4.00 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 where new fencing is required to meet the option grazing requirements
  • to prevent water pollution 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 helps control livestock, protects environmental features and helps to 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 fence at least 1.05m high
  • use strands of galvanised 4 millimetre (mm) mild plain steel wire or 2.5mm barbed wire
  • use enough strands to control the livestock
  • use straining posts that are at least 125mm by 125mm square (or have a 100mm top diameter) and are at least 1.87m long
  • set the straining posts at least 750mm into the ground and no more than 150m apart
  • place a straining post at every change of direction (horizontal or vertical) and at each end of the fence
  • use struts that are 75mm by 75mm square, or have a 65mm top diameter, and 1.87m long
  • set the struts at least 450mm into the ground and mortise them into the straining post
  • use intermediate posts that are 75mm by 75mm square (or have a 65mm top diameter) and 1.75m long
  • set the intermediate posts at least 600mm in the ground and no more than 3.5m apart
  • make sure that all the materials 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 existing 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 length 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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