The Hedgerow and Boundary Grants is a competitive capital grant providing up to a maximum of £10,000 per year under Countryside Stewardship and is designed to help farmers and land managers restore existing farm boundaries.
It is expected that the 2020 grants will be similar to the previous year’s scheme, which provided 12 capital item options including:
- Restoration of banks
- Hedgelaying
- Stone wall restoration
- Planting of hedgerow trees
Specific rates are quoted for each of the options.
These options are likely to be useful in a farming sense, should field boundaries need in improving, and can be applied for yearly.
According to the new Agricultural Bill (soon to be adopted), payment schemes are going to go down the road of ‘money for public goods’; whereby there is move to de-couple payments away from set rates per land occupied.
The Hedgerow and Boundary grant aims provide an increase in bio-diversity, improve habitats and to provide enhanced flood resilience.
As a result it is advisable to make use of these type of grant while they are available.
Countryside Stewardship is already competitively scored. Grant funded items as part of the scheme, could assist in provide increased points for in applying for future competitive payments, as they accord well with future priorities; such as flooding resilience.
To be eligible the applicant must be registered on the Rural Payments service, the land must have and (SBI) number and you must have full management control over the land for 2 years from the start of your agreement.
There are restrictions.
The next round of funding is expected to be available in February 2020.
For help with preparing an application or for further information call us or email one of the team agricultural@tamlyns.co.uk.