BC4BC4: Tree Guard Post and wire

Aim

How much willyou’ll be paid

£132.16 per tree guardguard.

WhereHow this item benefits the environment

This item helps beavers to remain on river catchments and protects valued trees.

Where you can use this item (eligibility)

You can use this item:

• There

  where mustthere’s be evidence of beaver activity within the river catchment area toyou’re beprotecting protected.– see section 2.1.2 of the Protection and Infrastructure guidance for a list of catchment areas

• The

  on tree(s)trees mustwith have a commercial, amenity or ornamental value.value An– an ornamental tree,tree is a tree thatthat’s is grown only for aesthetic value, for its beautiful appearance and not for harvest of fruit or wood for commercial gain.gain

• The

  on tree(s)trees must be within 100 metres (m) of a water body or watercourse where beavers are foraging or therethere’s is a strong likelihood of foraging.foraging

Where

You cannot use this item cannoton be used

• On historic or archaeological features as identified in theyour Historic Environment Farm Environment RecordsRecord (HEFER).

HowWhat thisyou itemmust willdo benefitto theuse environment

Thisthis item helps manage the foraging effects of beavers and protects valued trees.

Requirements

You must:

• Remove

  use olda materialminimum beforeof erecting2 newstakes or,that whereare this has been fenced previously and is still within the ex-post requirements, attach new guard to old guard.

• Use at least 20.5m stakes, at least 0.5 metres apart.apart

• One

  one stake mustshould be at1.5m leasthigh, 1.5 metres high and the other 0.5at metresleast high.0.5m

• Use

  use galvanised weld mesh ofthat’s thicknessat least 1.8 millimetres (mm) – 2.52.5mm millimetresthickness (15-12 wire gauge), mesh 50 millimetresmm xby 50 millimetres,mm and height 900 millimetres.mm

• To

  prevent the trunk rubbing against the metal,metal either– bendyou thecan do this by bending vertical strands of wire mesh soto they face outwards;outwards or pushby apushing piece of rubber tubing split lengthways on to the top of the wire circle.circle

• The

  ensure the wire mesh mustis be flush with the ground.ground

• The

  ensure the wire mesh mustcovers cover buttress roots,roots which may need additional lengths of wire to be attached to the lower edge of the coil around the tree.tree

• Leave

  leave a minimum gap of 0.250.25m metres from the trunk.

trunk
• Obtain

If requiredyou permissionshave andtree complyguards withthat existingwere legislation.previously Somefunded activitiesthrough inCountryside and/orStewardship, nearyou riverscan whichreuse couldthe affectposts riversto andinstall floodthe risktree mayguards needor permissionreplace fromwith environmentalnew regulators.posts if needed.

You may need a permit or consent from the relevantEnvironment FloodAgency, Risklead Managementlocal Authorityflood (RMA).authority Furtheror adviceinternal fordrainage activitiesboard andbefore whostarting toany contactwork. canRead beowning founda onwatercourse GOV.UK. for more information.

You must not:

• attach the wire mesh directly to the tree

• attach guards so that they 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

KeepingEvidence recordsyou must keep

You must sendkeep theand followingprovide with your application:

• Photograph

  a photograph of the tree toyou’re be protectedprotecting

• Map

  a map to confirm the location of the tree toyou’re be protectedprotecting

• Any

  any relevant permits or consents from the relevant Flood Risk Management Authority (RMA).body

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

• Photograph

  a photograph of completed works

• Receipted

  receipted invoices,invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailablenot available

• Consents

  consents or permissions connected with the work

• Information

  information of the tree species and it’sits commercial, amenity or ornamental value.value

PleaseRead see the record keeping and inspectionsite visit requirements asin setthe outAgreement inholder’s theguide: relevantCapital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure guidancegrants for more detail.information.

Other Youitems you can finduse thewith latestthis guidanceitem

You atcan Countrysideuse Stewardship:this getitem fundingwith tothese protectitems:

BC3: Crop protection fencing mesh and improvewire thefor landpermanent youcrops

BC5: manageExpert dam management.

RelatedAdvice Countrysideto Protectionhelp andyou Infrastructureuse capitalthis itemsitem

YouThe canfollowing advice may help you to use this itemitem, alongsidebut theyou followingdo standalonenot capitalhave items:

• BC3to –follow Cropit protectionto meshget wirepaid. fencingIt’s fornot permanentpart crops

Readof Countrysidethis Stewardship:item’s getrequirements.

British fundingstandards

Check to protectmake andsure improve the landworks youmeet managerelevant British Standards.

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

Phone: 0300 060 3900

Email: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk