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Introduction to Hedgerow Grants in England: Funding Options for Planting and Management

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Overview of the main hedgerow grant schemes in England, including Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive options, as well as private and environmental funding opportunities for planting, restoring, and managing hedgerows.

Hedgerows are a cornerstone of England’s rural landscapes. They border fields and farms, define boundaries, and provide essential ecological and agricultural benefits. From offering habitats to wildlife to supporting sustainable farming practices, hedgerows are far more than a collection of shrubs and trees—they’re vital to the health and productivity of the countryside.

But maintaining and restoring hedgerows requires time, resources, and funding. Whether you’re looking to plant a new hedgerow, manage an existing one, or address health issues caused by pests and diseases, there are grants and support schemes available to help landowners and farmers take action. This guide explores the main funding options for hedgerows in England, including government schemes like Countryside Stewardship (CS) and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), as well as emerging private funding opportunities.

Why Hedgerow Grants Are Essential

Hedgerows are integral to the ecological balance of rural landscapes, serving as habitats for birds, mammals, and insects, while also supporting farming practices. They create essential connections between habitats, enabling species to move freely across farmland, woodlands, and water sources. Flowering plants like hawthorn and blackthorn provide nectar for pollinators, and their berries sustain birds through the colder months.

For farmers, hedgerows reduce soil erosion, protect crops from wind, and manage water runoff to prevent flooding. They also attract beneficial predators like birds and insects that naturally control pests. Recognizing these benefits, the UK government has prioritized grants that encourage planting, maintaining, and restoring hedgerows.

Funding Options for Hedgerows in England

Hedgerow grants are tailored to meet specific goals, whether it’s establishing new hedgerows, maintaining existing ones, or tackling tree health challenges. Let’s explore the primary funding opportunities:

1. Grants for Planting New Hedgerows

Planting grants are ideal for creating new hedgerows to enhance biodiversity, connect fragmented habitats, and improve farm productivity.

  • Countryside Stewardship (CS):
    • Planting Rate: Up to £9.50 per metre for new hedgerow establishment.
    • Fencing Support: Additional £22.97 per metre to protect young hedgerows from livestock.
    • Higher-tier projects encourage species-rich planting and connecting wildlife corridors.
  • Local Authority Grants:
    • Some councils offer funding for planting hedgerows, particularly in areas prone to flooding or where green spaces are being restored.

2. Grants for Hedgerow Management and Maintenance

Managing existing hedgerows involves ensuring they remain dense, healthy, and beneficial for wildlife.

  • Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI):
    • CHRW1: £5 per 100 metres to assess and record hedgerow conditions.
    • CHRW2: £13 per 100 metres for rotational cutting and maintenance practices.
    • CHRW3: £10 per 100 metres to maintain or establish hedgerow trees.
  • Countryside Stewardship:
    • Offers funding for coppicing, laying, and rotational cutting under mid-tier and higher-tier options.
    • Annual Maintenance Payments: Typically £42 per hectare, covering traditional management practices like hedge-laying and coppicing.

3. Grants for Tree Health and Biosecurity

When hedgerows are affected by pests or diseases, the Tree Health Pilot offers targeted support.

  • Tree Health Pilot:
    • Covers the removal of infected trees, such as those impacted by ash dieback.
    • Provides funding for replanting with resilient species and implementing biosecurity measures to reduce disease spread.
    • Includes financial support for professional surveys and expert advice on managing tree health.

Emerging Opportunities: Carbon Credits and Private Funding

Hedgerows are gaining recognition for their ability to store carbon, and landowners can now access funding through carbon credit schemes. By planting and maintaining hedgerows, farmers can generate carbon offsets, opening up a new revenue stream.

Private organizations like the Woodland Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) also provide funding and guidance for hedgerow projects, often focusing on planting native species and improving connectivity between habitats.

Local community grants are another source of support, particularly for projects that enhance green spaces, improve flood management, or involve community engagement.

Finding the Right Grant for Your Project

The right grant depends on the goals of your hedgerow project. Are you creating a new hedgerow to support biodiversity? Maintaining existing boundaries? Or tackling tree health challenges? Assess your hedgerows, identify areas for improvement, and align your project objectives with the available funding opportunities.

  • Combine schemes where possible: Use CS to establish hedgerows and SFI for ongoing maintenance.
  • Explore private funding to supplement government schemes and unlock additional financial support.

Get Expert Advice with AskGrant

Navigating the maze of grants can feel overwhelming, but that’s exactly where AskGrant shines. With straightforward advice and a no-nonsense approach, AskGrant is your go-to resource for finding and securing the right funding for your hedgerow projects.

Whether you’re planning to plant new hedgerows, restore old ones, or manage their health, AskGrant helps you cut through the complexity. Discover exactly which grants you qualify for, get clear steps to apply, and find out how to make the most of every opportunity.

No jargon, no confusion—just expert advice tailored to you. Visit AskGrant today and take the hassle out of funding your countryside projects. A thriving landscape and the support you need are just a click away.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Overview of the main hedgerow grant schemes in England, including Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive options, as well as private and environmental funding opportunities for planting, restoring, and managing hedgerows.

Hedgerows are a cornerstone of England’s rural landscapes. They border fields and farms, define boundaries, and provide essential ecological and agricultural benefits. From offering habitats to wildlife to supporting sustainable farming practices, hedgerows are far more than a collection of shrubs and trees—they’re vital to the health and productivity of the countryside.

But maintaining and restoring hedgerows requires time, resources, and funding. Whether you’re looking to plant a new hedgerow, manage an existing one, or address health issues caused by pests and diseases, there are grants and support schemes available to help landowners and farmers take action. This guide explores the main funding options for hedgerows in England, including government schemes like Countryside Stewardship (CS) and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), as well as emerging private funding opportunities.

Why Hedgerow Grants Are Essential

Hedgerows are integral to the ecological balance of rural landscapes, serving as habitats for birds, mammals, and insects, while also supporting farming practices. They create essential connections between habitats, enabling species to move freely across farmland, woodlands, and water sources. Flowering plants like hawthorn and blackthorn provide nectar for pollinators, and their berries sustain birds through the colder months.

For farmers, hedgerows reduce soil erosion, protect crops from wind, and manage water runoff to prevent flooding. They also attract beneficial predators like birds and insects that naturally control pests. Recognizing these benefits, the UK government has prioritized grants that encourage planting, maintaining, and restoring hedgerows.

Funding Options for Hedgerows in England

Hedgerow grants are tailored to meet specific goals, whether it’s establishing new hedgerows, maintaining existing ones, or tackling tree health challenges. Let’s explore the primary funding opportunities:

1. Grants for Planting New Hedgerows

Planting grants are ideal for creating new hedgerows to enhance biodiversity, connect fragmented habitats, and improve farm productivity.

  • Countryside Stewardship (CS):
    • Planting Rate: Up to £9.50 per metre for new hedgerow establishment.
    • Fencing Support: Additional £22.97 per metre to protect young hedgerows from livestock.
    • Higher-tier projects encourage species-rich planting and connecting wildlife corridors.
  • Local Authority Grants:
    • Some councils offer funding for planting hedgerows, particularly in areas prone to flooding or where green spaces are being restored.

2. Grants for Hedgerow Management and Maintenance

Managing existing hedgerows involves ensuring they remain dense, healthy, and beneficial for wildlife.

  • Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI):
    • CHRW1: £5 per 100 metres to assess and record hedgerow conditions.
    • CHRW2: £13 per 100 metres for rotational cutting and maintenance practices.
    • CHRW3: £10 per 100 metres to maintain or establish hedgerow trees.
  • Countryside Stewardship:
    • Offers funding for coppicing, laying, and rotational cutting under mid-tier and higher-tier options.
    • Annual Maintenance Payments: Typically £42 per hectare, covering traditional management practices like hedge-laying and coppicing.

3. Grants for Tree Health and Biosecurity

When hedgerows are affected by pests or diseases, the Tree Health Pilot offers targeted support.

  • Tree Health Pilot:
    • Covers the removal of infected trees, such as those impacted by ash dieback.
    • Provides funding for replanting with resilient species and implementing biosecurity measures to reduce disease spread.
    • Includes financial support for professional surveys and expert advice on managing tree health.

Emerging Opportunities: Carbon Credits and Private Funding

Hedgerows are gaining recognition for their ability to store carbon, and landowners can now access funding through carbon credit schemes. By planting and maintaining hedgerows, farmers can generate carbon offsets, opening up a new revenue stream.

Private organizations like the Woodland Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) also provide funding and guidance for hedgerow projects, often focusing on planting native species and improving connectivity between habitats.

Local community grants are another source of support, particularly for projects that enhance green spaces, improve flood management, or involve community engagement.

Finding the Right Grant for Your Project

The right grant depends on the goals of your hedgerow project. Are you creating a new hedgerow to support biodiversity? Maintaining existing boundaries? Or tackling tree health challenges? Assess your hedgerows, identify areas for improvement, and align your project objectives with the available funding opportunities.

  • Combine schemes where possible: Use CS to establish hedgerows and SFI for ongoing maintenance.
  • Explore private funding to supplement government schemes and unlock additional financial support.

Get Expert Advice with AskGrant

Navigating the maze of grants can feel overwhelming, but that’s exactly where AskGrant shines. With straightforward advice and a no-nonsense approach, AskGrant is your go-to resource for finding and securing the right funding for your hedgerow projects.

Whether you’re planning to plant new hedgerows, restore old ones, or manage their health, AskGrant helps you cut through the complexity. Discover exactly which grants you qualify for, get clear steps to apply, and find out how to make the most of every opportunity.

No jargon, no confusion—just expert advice tailored to you. Visit AskGrant today and take the hassle out of funding your countryside projects. A thriving landscape and the support you need are just a click away.