BN5: Hedgerow laying

• photographs of the completed workclaim

You must also keep the following records and supplyprovide them on request:

• anyall consents or permissions connected with the work
• receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• photographs of each length of hedge entered into the item before work starts
• the date, location and method of any weed control undertakencarried out
• the datesdate of preparation works and laying
• the dates of post-laying trimming

PleaseRead see the record keeping and inspectionsite visit requirements as set out in the relevantAgreement Midholder’s Tier,guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier orcapital Capitalgrants Grantsand guidanceProtection and Infrastructure grants for more detail.information.

Supplements and actions you can use with this item

You can finduse thethis latestitem guidancewith atthese Countrysidesupplements:

BN4:Earth Stewardship:bank getrestoration

BN8: fundingHedgerow tosupplement-casting protectup

BN9: andHedgerow improvesupplement-substantial thepre-work

BN10: landHedgerow yousupplement manage- top binding and staking.

Related

Sustainable MidFarming TierIncentive items

You can use this item onwith thethese sameactions:

CHRW1: lengthAssess asand therecord followinghedgerow itemscondition

CHRW2: andManage supplements:hedgerows

• BN8

  CHRW3: -Maintain Hedgerowor supplementestablish -hedgerow casting uptrees

• BN9  

  Countryside -Stewardship HedgerowHigher supplementTier -actions

  You substantialcan pre-work

• BN10use -this Hedgerowitem supplementwith -CHRW4: topManage binding and staking

Advice and suggestions for how to carryhelp outyou use this item

The following advice ismay helpful,help you to use this item, but theyyou aredo not requirementshave forto follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item.item’s requirements.   

PickChoosing the right hedgehedgerow

UseUnderstand the hedgerowrequirements managementof cyclethe Hedgerow Regulations 2024 to help you decide what management is needed.

Choose a hedgehedgerow which:that:

• has few gaps and enough stems to lay to achieve a continuous length of hedgehedgerow
• has stems between 5 centimetres (cm) to 15cm in diameter -– however, itit’s is possible to cut larger stems with a chainsaw
• is tall enough to lay (at least 2.5m,2.5m and ideally 4m)4m high)

HedgeHow layingto lay a successful hedgerow

To undertakelay hedgea layingsuccessful successfully:hedgerow:

• only cut using hand-toolshand tools (including chainsaws)
• lay the hedge in the regionallocal style
• cut each stem as low as possible (nobut no more than 10cm from the ground)ground
• choose stems whichthat when laid do not leave large gaps when they’re laid
• protect the newly laid hedge from damage by grazing animals -– rabbityou fencing may beneed neededrabbit fencing if local populations are high
• leave as much side growth on the branchescut stems as possible
• lay stems at an angle of about 35 to 45 degrees from the horizontal
• keep any existing trees and leave the occasional ‘standard’ hawthorn or other species if this fits in with the local landscape character
• keep deadwood where possible
• plant up gaps using native species to improve the continuity of the hedgehedgerow

FencingYou may only need to be temporary andfencing in place foruntil asthe longhedgerow ashas itgrown takesenough the hedge to growform sufficiently.a barrier.

HedgeControlling managementweeds and managing a newly laid hedgerow

ControlYou should control competitive weeds (including brambles, nettles and grasses) during the first growing season. TheseThis weedswill reduce the re-growthweeds ratecompeting of the with:

laid stemsstem-establishment byand competing for regrowth

soil moisture, nutrients and light.light

EncourageYou can encourage dense bushy growth of the newly laid hedge by:

• trimming lightly for 3 years
• never cutting back to the same point,point butto allowingallow the hedge to gradually increase in height and width by several centimetres at each cut

InAfter following3 yearsyears, you can leave the hedgehedgerow to grow unchecked until it requiresneeds layingmanaging oragain coppicing,by orlaying, becoppicing managedor by trimming.  

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 Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Grants including how to apply.