BN2: Stone-faced bank restoration

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

£163.26 per metre (m). The payment rate is for the total length of boundary under restoration, not for each side of the boundary.

How this item benefits the environment

Restoring the stone-faced bank helps control livestock and conserve a traditional landscape.

Where you can use this item

You can use this item:

• where you have management control of both sides of the boundary
• where lengths of stone-faced bank need restoring – restoration means more than 50% of the original height needs rebuilding

You cannot use this item:

• if you have received funding in the last 7 years to maintain the same section of stone-faced bank

• with Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) management action BND2: Maintain earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks

What you must do to use this item

Preparing to repair the stone bank

You must:

• repair the stone bank back to its original height and profile to match other banks found locally
• strip any loose stone back by hand until there are firm stones to build on – you must not disturb the basal courses
• use the original facing stone if it’s available
• only use imported stone that matches the type, size and style traditional to the area
• haul the stone only when ground conditions are firm enough to prevent damage to neighbouring fields

Repairing the stone bank

You must:

• build the stone up in courses using progressively smaller stones nearer the top and make sure the stones sit firmly on the course below
• back-fill each course with earth and small stones or closely packed small stones
• tamp each course down to form a solid core before continuing with the next course
• stagger joints and incorporate long stones at intervals so they run lengthways into the middle of the bank as tie stones
• build each face of the bank so there’s a slight slope (‘batter’)
• finish off the top with a row of large flat stones, vertical stones or a layer of turf (depending on local tradition)
• make sure the top line of the bank is parallel to the ground
• finish the ends of the bank at gateways with turf or stone-facing and protect them from being damaged by livestock and machinery
• retain and restore original features (such as creep holes) built granite troughs or stone around gateways
• restore any stiles or gates to their original construction
• remove any surplus earth-fill and stones from the site when you have finished and restore any ground you have disturbed

You must not:

• block or restrict access to open access land
• carry out work between 1 March and 31 August if the bank is topped by a hedge
• take stone from other walls, banks or buildings
• remove soil from other banks (even if they are derelict)
• disturb healthy trees
• damage the roots of mature trees growing on the banks with machinery
• place stone on features of archaeological, historic or wildlife value as identified on your Farm Environment Record or your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record where applicable

Evidence you must keep

You must keep photographs during and after the works and provide with your claim.

You must also keep and provide on request:

• any consents or permissions connected with the work
• receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• photographs of each length of stone-faced bank entered into the item

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.

Items and actions you can use with this item

Capital items

You can use this item with TE1: Planting standard hedgerow tree

SFI actions

You can use this item with these actions:

CHRW1: Assess and record hedgerow condition

CHRW2: Manage hedgerows

CHRW3: Maintain or establish hedgerow trees

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions

You can use this item with CHRW4: Manage hedgerows

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.

You should follow the height and profile of local stone-faced banks in good condition when repairing your bank. These are usually at least:

• 1.3m high
• 1.3m wide at the base
• 0.6m to 0.8m wide at the top

When you have completed the repair, you may be able to apply to SFI action BND2: Maintain earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks to maintain it. [CSHT]: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier [m]: metres *[SFI]: Sustainable Farming Incentive