BC3BC3: Crop protection fencing mesh and wire for permanent crops

Aim

How much willyou’ll be paid

£6.34 per metre (m).

How this item benefits the environment

This item helps:

• beavers remain on river catchments

• mitigate against the foraging activity of beavers

Where toyou can use this item (eligibility)

You can use this item:

• Therewhere mustthere’s be evidence of beaver activity within the river catchment area toyou’re beprotecting protected,– see section 5.72.1.2 of the Protection and Infrastructure grants guidance for a list of catchment areas.areas

• Thereto mustprotect be a permanent cropcrops including Cricket Bat Willow within 100100m metres of a waterwaterbody body or watercourse where beavers are foraging or there is a strong likelihood of foraging. Forforaging more– information about permanent crops please see the BPS2024 definitionland ofuse permanent crops guidecodes onfor GOV.UK.more information

Where

Cricket thisbat itemwillow cannotis bean used

eligible permanent crop for this item.

OnYou cannot use this item on historic or archaeological features as identified in theyour Historic Environment Farm Environment RecordsRecord (HEFER).

HowWhat thisyou itemmust willdo benefit the environment

This item helps beavers to remainuse whilstthis mitigating against the foraging activity of beavers.

Requirements:item

You must:

• Remove

  remove old fencing before erecting new fencing. Or, where fencing has previously been funded (through Agri-environment schemes) and is still within the ex-post requirements, attach new fencing to existing fencing. You can utilise the existing posts and strengthen or improve with new posts where required.

• Wire

  use wire mesh fencing shouldbetween be0.9m 0.9and metres1.5m – 1.5 metres high so that beavers cannot get above it.it

• Use

  use galvanised that’s at least 18 gauge,gauge and 31 millimetremillimetres (mm) hexagonal wire mesh to construct the fence.fence

• Attach

  attach netting to a pair of 2.652.65mm, millimetre, high tensile, spring steel straining wires using galvanised netting rings.rings

• Make

  make sure therethere’s is one straining wire at the bottom of the fence and one at the top.top

• Bury

  bury the bottom edge of the netting to a depth of 150150mm millimetres or lap the netting on the surface of the ground towards the water body or water course.course

• Anchor

  anchor lapped netting at 11m metreintervals intervals.if lapping (folding over)

Attach new fencing to existing fencing posts if both of the following apply:

• Make

  you surehave fencing that allwas materialspreviously meetfunded relevantthrough BritishCountryside Standards.Stewardship

• Comply

  it’s with5 existingyears legislationfrom and contact the Floodstart Riskdate Managementof Authorityyour (RMA)agreement. toYou checkmust ifmaintain anythe permissionsitem orbeing permitsfunded areto required.the Someagreed activitiesstandard induring and/orthis nearperiod

You riverscan whichuse couldthe affectexisting riversposts and floodstrengthen risk,or improve with new posts where required.

You may requireneed permissionconsent from environmentalthe regulators.

FurtherEnvironment guidanceAgency, andlead wholocal toflood contactauthority canor beinternal founddrainage board before starting any work. Read guidance on GOV.UK.

owning a watercourse for more information.

You must not:

• attach the fence to trees or hedgerows

• use electric fencing

• block or restrict access to open access land

• install fencing on historic or archaeological features

• install fencing thatthat’s is located close to a watercourse or across a watercourse.watercourse without a relevant permit

KeepingEvidence recordsyou must keep

You must sendkeep theand followingprovide with your application:

• Photograph

  a ofmap the permanent crop to be protected.

• Map to confirm location of works.works

• Any

  any relevant advice or consents from the relevant Floodbody Riskif Managementneeded

• a Authorityphotograph (RMA).of the site before the work starts

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

• Photograph

  a photograph of completed works.works

• Receipted

  receipted invoices,invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable.not available

• Consents

  consents or permissions connected with the work.work

PleaseRead see the Protectionrecord keeping and Infrastructuresite grantsvisit guidancerequirements forin morethe detailsAgreement aboutholder’s recordguide: keepingCapital andGrants, siteHigher visits.

RelatedTier Countrysidecapital grants and Protection and Infrastructure capitalgrants for more information.

Other items you can use with this item

You can use this item alongsidewith thethese following standalone capital items:

BC4 – Tree guardGuard postPost and wire

BC5: Expert dam management

FurtherAdvice informationto help you use this item

ReadThe Countrysidefollowing Stewardship:advice getmay fundinghelp you to protectuse andthis improveitem, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements

Check to make sure the landwork youmeets managerelevant British Standards.

Call toNatural findEngland’s outenquiry moreline informationif you have questions about Protectionbeaver andactivity Infrastructureon grantsyour includingland. howThey’ll direct you to apply.the most appropriate advice.

Phone: 0300 060 3900

Email: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk