FG2: Sheep netting

How much will be paid

£4.90£7.47 per metre (m).

Where to use this item

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, Higher Tier and WoodlandHigher CreationTier grants if one of the following apply:

• inIn conjunction with a habitat management or creation option where new fencing is required to meet the option grazing requirements
• toTo prevent water pollution caused by farming (approval from a Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer is not required nor does the parcel need to be in a High Priority area for water quality)
• toTo protect environmental features (for example newly planted trees, buffer strips and field corners taken out of management) or as agreed with the Forestry Commission Woodland Officer.

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants:Grants:

• to prevent water pollution caused by farming (approval from a Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer is not required nor does the parcel need to be in a High Priority area for water quality)

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

It is also available for Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot) to help you undertake the actions in the following SFI pilot standards:

• Hedgerows standard
• Water body buffering standard
• Improved grassland standard
• Low/no input grassland
• Farm woodland standard, but only if you also apply for TE4 (Supply and plant a tree) and located the sheep netting on arable land or improved grassland used for the optional ‘Expand your woodland’ action.

In the above instances you do not have to locate the sheep netting to prevent water pollution caused by farming.

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

TheseFor requirementsnew apply to agreements with a start date from 2023. For any existing live agreements, you must adhere to the specification as outlined in your agreement.

You must:

• removeRemove all old fencing material before putting up the new fencing
• useUse softwood timber that is fully peeled, coated with wood preservative and pressure treated, or treated with an HSE approved industrial wood preservative, to comply with Use Class 4 as defined in BS8417:2014 ‘Preservation of Wood - Code of Practice’. UntreatedYou durablecan timberalso canuse beuntreated useddurable timber as set out in the Forestry Commission guide to forest fencing. As an alternative to wooden fence posts, you can use metal fence posts. For Higher Tier you should agree this with your Natural England Adviser or Forestry Commission Woodland Officer
• putPut up a steel wire mesh fence at least 1.05m high
• use (finished height). Use additional strands of galvanised steel wire (plain or barbed) if you need extra height
• useUse straining posts that have a top diameter of at least 125 millimetre (mm), or are 100100mm by 100mm in cross-section when sawn
• makeMake sure the straining posts are 1.85m2.1m long if, set in concrete and 2.15m long if not, or are at least 2.4m long for metal fence posts
• placePlace the straining posts no more than 150m apart if usingyou use mild steel line wire, or 300m600m apart for high tensile wire
• useUse a straining post at every change of direction (horizontal or vertical) and at each end of the fence
• useUse struts that have a top diameter of at least 80mm,75mm, or are 75mm by 75mm when sawn
• makeMake sure the struts are 1.6m2.1m if set in concrete and 1.9m long if not, or are at least 2.4m long for metal fencing
• notchMortice struts into the straining post at an angle of no more than 45 degreesdegrees. Do not secure by a nail alone
• useUse intermediate posts that have a top diameter of at least 65mm, or are 75mm by 75mm when sawn
• makeMake sure the intermediate posts are 1.7m1.65m long (or at least 1.8m long for metal fencing) and space them no further than 3.5m3m apart if using hinge-jointed wire mesh. IfOr if you are using stiffstay wire mesh, spacingyou can bespace up to 4.5m6m depending on the conditions of the ground
• makeMake sure that all the materialswork youmeets use meet the relevant British Standards - see copies of the most up-to-date standards for guidance

Do not:

• attach the fence to trees or hedgerows
• block or restrict access to open access land
• hard staple the wire to intermediate posts. The wire should be a running fit so it can move, contract and expand in different temperatures

If you have an existing agreement, you must continue to follow the specifications in that agreement.

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 Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, Higher Tier, or Capital Grants orguidance Woodland Creation manual for more detail.

Related Mid Tier and Capital Grants item

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

• FG4 - Rabbit fencing supplement

Biodiversity

This item has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.

The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.

Further information

Read more information about Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, Higher Tier, or Capital Grants or Woodland Creation including how to apply.