BC4BC4: Tree Guard Post and wire
Find out about eligibility requirements for beaver protection infrastructure item
- From:
- Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
- Published
- 5 July 2022
- Last updated
-
53JuneFebruary20242025 — See all updates
- Grant type:
-
- Capital item
-
- Tiers or standalone items:
- Tiers or standalone items:
-
- Standalone capital items
-
- Funding (per unit per year):
- Funding (per unit per year):
-
- Up to £100
AimToThisprotectitemspecificisindividualparttreesofthatCapitalareGrantsprioritised2025.asYouhavingmustcommercial,readamenitytheorCapitalornamentalGrantsvalue2025 guidance toavoidunderstanddamagethecausedrulesbyandbeaverhowactivity.to apply.How much
willyou’ll be paid£132.16 per tree
guardguard.WhereHow this item benefits the environmentThis item helps beavers to remain on river catchments and protects valued trees.
Where you can use this item
(eligibility)You can use this item:
Therewhere
mustthere’sbeevidence of beaver activity within the river catchment areatoyou’rebeprotectingprotected.– see section 2.1.2 of the Protection and Infrastructure guidance for a list of catchment areasTheon
tree(s)treesmustwithhavea commercial, amenity or ornamentalvalue.valueAn– an ornamentaltree,tree is a treethatthat’sisgrown only foraestheticvalue,foritsbeautifulappearance and not for harvest of fruit or wood for commercialgain.gainTheon
tree(s)treesmustbewithin 100 metres (m) of a water body or watercourse where beavers are foraging ortherethere’sisa strong likelihood offoraging.foraging
WhereYou cannot use this item
cannotonbeusedOnhistoric or archaeological features as identified intheyour Historic Environment Farm EnvironmentRecordsRecord (HEFER).
HowWhatthisyouitemmustwilldobenefittotheuseenvironmentThisthis itemhelpsmanagetheforagingeffectsofbeaversandprotectsvaluedtrees.RequirementsYou must:
Removeuse
oldamaterialminimumbeforeoferecting2newstakesor,thatwherearethishasbeenfencedpreviouslyandisstillwithintheex-postrequirements,attachnewguardtooldguard.Useat least20.5mstakes,atleast0.5metresapart.apartOneone stake
mustshould beat1.5mleasthigh,1.5metreshighandthe other0.5atmetresleasthigh.0.5mUseuse galvanised weld mesh
ofthat’sthicknessat least 1.8 millimetres (mm) –2.52.5mmmillimetresthickness (15-12 wire gauge), mesh 50millimetresmmxby 50millimetres,mm and height 900millimetres.mmToprevent the trunk rubbing against the
metal,metaleither–bendyouthecan do this by bending vertical strands of wire meshsototheyfaceoutwards;outwards orpushbyapushingpieceofrubber tubing split lengthways ontothetopofthe wirecircle.circleTheensure the wire mesh
mustisbeflush with theground.groundTheensure the wire mesh
mustcoverscoverbuttressroots,roots which may need additional lengths of wire to be attached to the lower edge of the coil around thetree.treeLeaveleave a minimum gap of
0.250.25mmetresfrom thetrunk.trunk
Obtain
If
requiredyoupermissionshaveandtreecomplyguardswiththatexistingwerelegislation.previouslySomefundedactivitiesthroughinCountrysideand/orStewardship,nearyouriverscanwhichreusecouldtheaffectpostsriverstoandinstallfloodtherisktreemayguardsneedorpermissionreplacefromwithenvironmentalnewregulators.posts if needed.You may need
apermitorconsent from therelevantEnvironmentFloodAgency,RiskleadManagementlocalAuthorityflood(RMA).authorityFurtheroradviceinternalfordrainageactivitiesboardandbeforewhostartingtoanycontactwork.canReadbeowningfoundaonwatercourseGOV.UK.for more information.You must not:
-
attach
thewire mesh directly to the tree -
attach guards so
thatthey rub against,constrict,constrict or damage the tree in any other way -
use lighter gauge material or chicken
wire,wire as it may not be effective -
use electric fencing
-
block or restrict access to open access
land.land
KeepingEvidencerecordsyou must keepYou must
sendkeeptheandfollowingprovide with your application:Photographa photograph of the tree
toyou’rebeprotectedprotectingMapa map to confirm the location of the tree
toyou’rebeprotectedprotectingAnyany
relevantpermits or consents from the relevantFloodRiskManagementAuthority(RMA).body
You must also keep
thefollowingrecordsandsupplyprovidethemwith yourpaymentclaim:Photographa photograph of completed works
Receiptedreceipted
invoices,invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice isunavailablenot availableConsentsconsents or permissions connected with the work
Informationinformation of the tree species and
it’sits commercial, amenity or ornamentalvalue.value
PleaseReadseethe record keeping andinspectionsite visit requirementsasinsettheoutAgreementinholder’stheguide:relevantCapital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructureguidancegrants for moredetail.information.Other
Youitems you canfindusethewithlatestthisguidanceitemYou
atcanCountrysideuseStewardship:thisgetitemfundingwithtotheseprotectitems:BC3: Crop protection fencing mesh and
improvewiretheforlandpermanentyoucropsBC5:
manageExpert dam management.RelatedAdviceCountrysidetoProtectionhelpandyouInfrastructureusecapitalthisitemsitemYouThecanfollowing advice may help you to use thisitemitem,alongsidebuttheyoufollowingdostandalonenotcapitalhaveitems:BC3to–followCropitprotectiontomeshgetwirepaid.fencingIt’sfornotpermanentpartcrops
ReadofCountrysidethisStewardship:item’sgetrequirements.British
fundingstandardsCheck to
protectmakeandsureimprovethelandworksyoumeetmanagerelevant British Standards.Call
toNaturalfindEngland’soutenquirymorelineinformationif you have questions aboutProtectionbeaverandactivityInfrastructureonincludingyourhowland. They’ll direct you toapply.the most appropriate advice.Phone: 0300 060 3900
Updates to this page
Published 5 July 2022
Last updated53JuneFebruary20242025 + show all updates-
General improvement for clarity.
-
Decreased payment from £136.16 to £132.16
-
Payment per tree guard increased to £136.16 in 'how much will be paid' section.
-
First published.
Explore the topic
Update history
2025-10-08 11:10
This item is part of Protection and Infrastructure grants 2025. You must read the Protection and Infrastructure grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.2025-02-03 13:54
General improvement for clarity.2024-06-05 16:11
Decreased payment from £136.16 to £132.162024-05-31 13:32
Payment per tree guard increased to £136.16 in ‘how much will be paid’ section.2022-07-05 08:47
First published.- Grant type: