Field Boundary Restoration Grant Scheme

Introduction

The Field Boundary Restoration Grant Scheme is run by Durham County Council on behalf of the Durham Hedgerow Partnership. It provides a source of financial assistance to farmers and landowners who wish to bring back into management existing hedges or to establish new hedges. Funding is currently supplied by the council and the County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT).

Other grants may also be available from Natural England through the Environmental Stewardship Scheme which replaced Countryside Stewardship and the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme in 2005.

Works Eligible for Grant under the Field Boundary Restoration Grant Scheme

Grant assistance may be available to assist with:

• Hedgerow restoration by laying, coppicing and planting.
• Creation of new hedgerows.
• Planting hedgerow trees.
• Protective fencing where appropriate.

Rates of Payment

A standard rate of payment is available for the range of works described below. The standard rate of payment is set at approximantely 50% of the market rate. The maximum grant paid is £4000.

Who can Apply?

Any individual or organisation can apply for the grant. Please note that whoever applies, must be able to control the management of the land for the length of the agreement 5 years.

Who can Undertake the Work?

The work can be undertaken by a contractor or by the applicant. The rate of grant will remain the same in both cases but we would expect the same standard of work. Work undertaken by voluntary groups (not charging for their labour) will be paid grant on the basis of materials costs only.

Conditions Attached to the Grant

To qualify for the grant, the scheme must:

• Have the permission of the landowner.
• Be in keeping with the local landscape character.
• Not be receiving grant aid form another source.
• Not already have been carried out.
• Not involve works which are a requirement of planning permission.
• Not be part of a garden.
• Be maintained for five years.
• Be visible from a road or public right of way.
• Be completed by 31st March.

Payment of Grant

The grant will be paid in full following a satisfactory site inspection by the Project Officer.

Work Eligible for Grant Aid and Rates of Payment

Hedgerows

Item	Standard Rate
Hedgelaying; average stem size <4 inches at base	£5.00 per metre
Hedgelaying; average stem size 4-6 inches at base	£6.00 per metre
Hedgelaying; average stem size >6 inches at base	£7.00 per metre
Binding	£0.25 per metre
Hedge coppicing	£3.00 per metre
Planting (gapping up 4 plants per metre average)	£2.40 per metre
New planting (minimum 6 plants per metre)	£2.40 per metre
Organic mulch	£0.75 per metre
Sheet mulch	£0.45 per metre
Hedgeguards + canes	£0.30
New hedge cam or hedge cam restoration	£0.75

Hedgerow Trees

Item	Standard Rate
Tree planting (per plant)	£0.50
Tree tube and stake	£0.95

Fencing

Item	[Standard Rate
Supplement for removal of old fences	£0.50
Post and wire fencing	£1.20 per metre
Sheep fencing	£2.00 per metre
Permanent electric fencing	£1.20 per metre
Rabbit fencing	£2.00 per metre
Rabbit netting only	£1.00 per metre

Discretionary grants may also be available for stiles, gates and stone-faced hedgebank restoration.

Field Boundary Restoration Grant Leaflet

You can view the Field Boundary Restoration Grant leaflet by downloading the following PDF file.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document.

Field_Boundary_Restoration_Grant_Leaflet.pdf (2 pages, 9200kb)

Next Steps

The grant is administered by Durham County Council, Durham Biodiversity Partnership and Tyne Tees FWAG. You should contact one of the following Project Officers for further information and prior to starting any work:

County Durham

The Landscape Section
Environment
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UQ
Tel: 0191 3833426
Email: Landscape

Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Darlington

Durham Biodiversity Partnership
Durham Wildlife Trust
Rainton Meadows
Houghton-le-Spring
Durham
DH4 6TU
Tel: 0191 5843112
Email: Durham Biodiversity Partnership

All Areas

Tyne Tees FWAG
Enterprise House
Harmire Business Park
Barnard Castle
DL12 8XT
Tel: 01833 696634
Email: Tyne Tees FWAG