FY1: Deer high seat - GOV.UK

Contents

1. How much you'll be paid
2. How this item benefits the environment
3. Where you can use this item
4. What you must do to use this item
5. What the management plan must include
6. Evidence you must keep
7. Other items and actions you can use with this item
8. Capital items
9. Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions
10. Advice to help you use this item
11. British Standards

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

How much you’ll be paid

£265 per unit.

How this item benefits the environment

It provides a safe and temporary vantage point from which to cull deer, reducing the impact their browsing has on woodland.

Where you can use this item

With the agreement of the Forestry Commission, you can use this item either:

• if you have a management plan which identifies deer as a threat to woodland
• as part of a Woodland Tree Health grant

You cannot use this item where you have used deer fencing to fully enclose the eligible land area.

What you must do to use this item

You must:

• display a British Standard sign (or suitable equivalent) in a prominent location to prohibit public access from the high seat to comply with health and safety standards for non-authorised use
• make sure the seat has safety bars, is of an adequate size and is securely attached to an anchor point for authorised users
• protect the tree you are using as an anchor point to attach the seat – for example by using webbing strops rather than wire and nails

The high seat must be made from galvanised tubular or box-section steel. It’s better to install a free-standing seat, but you can install a lean-to seat. You can use an additional supplement FY8: Supplement to deer high seat for free-standing seats.

For more information on installing deer high seats, read the Deer Initiative’s best practice guide High seats: culling deer.

What the management plan must include

Your woodland management plan must identify that deer are a threat to the woodland’s condition. An approved species management plan for deer should detail control methods that require a deer high seat.

You should discuss and agree requirements that are specific to your site with your adviser.

Evidence you must keep

You must keep photographs of the completed work 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
• a Forestry Commission management plan approval letter

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.

Other items and actions you can use with this item

Capital items

You can use this item with these items:

FG10: Temporary deer fencing

FG11: Deer exclosure plot

FG16: Deer pedestrian gate

FG17: Deer vehicle gate

FY6: Restore coppicing in woodland

PA7: Species management plan

SM1: Training to control and manage deer

SM6: Using monitoring equipment to manage invasive species

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions

You can use with CWS1: Deer control and management

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.

British Standards

Check to make sure the work meets relevant British Standards.

Published 2 April 2015 Last updated 3 February 2025 + show all updates

1. 3 February 2025

Amended item - you can now use this item if a deer high seat is identified as a requirement in your species management plan.

1. 13 February 2023

This item is now available for Higher Tier Capital Grants

1. 8 March 2017

Updated for 2017 applications.

1. 29 March 2016

Information updated for applications in 2016.

1. 2 April 2015

First published.