BN16: Repair stone walls

This item is part of Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Capital Grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide to understand the rules and how to apply.

How much you’ll be paid

£16.17 per metre (m) – the payment rate is for the length of the boundary being repaired, not for each side of the boundary.

How this item benefits the environment

Repairing the stone wall helps control livestock and conserve a traditional landscape.

Where you can use this item

You can use this item on stone walls where no more than one third of the original height needs to be taken down and rebuilt to complete the repair.

You cannot use this item:

• on stone walls that are being managed in an Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Stewardship agreement under options EB11 or UB11: Stone wall protection and maintenance
• on walls which are being maintained under BND1: Maintain dry stone walls
• on sections of wall where more than one third of the original height needs to be dismantled and rebuilt – use item BN12: Stone wall restoration instead
• if you have received funding in the last 7 years to maintain the stone wall

What you must do to use this item

You must:

• rebuild the walls to their original height in the local style – refer to the height and style of other stone walls nearby that are in good condition
• dismantle the existing structure by hand until you have a solid base for rebuilding
• rebuild the wall so there’s an even top line, a consistent batter (slope) and no bulges or depressions along the face of the wall
• add a filling of solid rocks with each course where it’s part of the traditional construction
• keep all existing wall-side trees and sapling – a wall-side tree is one that forms part of the boundary feature or is attached to it such that livestock do not pass between it and the wall where relevant
• use wooden rails to stock proof any gaps left in the wall to allow for tree growth
• rebuild stone features into the wall that existed before the wall needed to be repaired (such as sheep creeps, troughs and stiles)
• re-use original stone if possible
• make sure any imported stone is traditional to the area in type, size and style
• only haul stone when ground conditions are firm enough to prevent damage to the fields next to the wall
• remove any leftover materials used to complete the wall and restore the ground where you have carried out the work

You must not:

• disturb foundation stones unless it’s necessary to create a firm base
• use topsoil, earth, sand or fine gravel as filling between courses
• use concrete or mortar
• take stone from other walls, banks or buildings on the holding
• place stone on features of archaeological, historic or wildlife value as identified on either your Farm Environment Record, MAGIC or Historic Environment Farm Environment Record

Evidence you must keep

You must keep photographs of the completed works and provide them with your claim. You must also keep and provide on request:

• any consents or permissions associated with the works
• receipted invoices or bank statements where receipted invoices are not available
• photographs of the wall to be repaired

Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants, and Protection and Infrastructure grants for more information.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide.

Other items or supplements you can use with this item

You can use this item with:

• BN13: Top wiring-stone wall
• BN14: Stone wall supplement-stone from quarry
• BN15: Stone wall supplement-difficult sites
• FG12: Wooden field gate

Advice to help you use this item

The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.

Match the stone and wall style for repair

Repair the wall so that it matches the stone types and wall styles in the immediate area as there can be distinctive local variations, often in relatively small areas. The style is determined by the composition, shape and size of the stone used and the way it’s split and shaped.

Repairing the wall

You should dismantle the existing wall by hand, then separate copings (covering stones) from through stones (stones that are at least the full width of the wall) and building stones for reuse. Lay building stones level and make solid using packing stones or filling.

If you’re using filling, always bring up the level of the middle of the wall for each course before going to the next one. You should not see daylight through the wall.

Place through stones where the wall is double-faced to spread the weight and stress on the wall evenly (they must not stick out more than 15 centimetres (cm)).

For a solid wall, lay building stones next to each other so they touch. Layer up the wall making sure you stagger the next row of stones over the joints of the stones below (for example 1 stone on 2, then 2 stones on 1). You should lay each stone with its length reaching well into the wall, not along the wall.

Pack coping stones as firmly as possible to cap the wall. Finish the entrances and wall ends with a cheek end (straight, vertical end).

The sides of the wall should slant evenly on both sides, creating an even ‘batter’ from a wide base to a narrower top. Avoid creating bulges as it weakens the wall which may collapse. [CSHT]: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier [m]: metres *[cm]: centimetres