FY3: Grey squirrel traps and maintenance

You can only apply 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.

This item is not available as a standalone capital grant.

How much you’ll be paid

Under this item we will pay 80% of actual costs (including VAT, where applicable).

If you are using your own labour to repair and maintain the traps, the Rural Payments Agency will pay 80% of the 80% value.

How this item benefits the environment

Using this item effectively will:

• limit damage to establishing, growing and mature trees
• support red squirrel populations (where present)
• increase control of an invasive species
• support the conservation and composition of native woodland

You can only use this item if you apply for it alongside CWS3: Grey squirrel control and management and on adjacent areas. The land must be registered on your holding and be an area which grey squirrels are likely to re-colonise.

The Forestry Commission will assess your application for this capital item before you are offered an agreement.

You cannot use this item:

• where grey squirrels are present and are not harming the woodland
• where only red squirrels are present

What you must do to use this item

You must:

• submit your Forestry Commission-approved species management plan with your application
• agree a detailed specification for the item with the Forestry Commission
• provide at least 3 written quotations to complete the work including associated costings with your application
• agree the selected quotation with the Forestry Commission
• create, install and complete the works according to the agreed specification and timescale

Evidence you must keep

You must keep and provide with your claim:

• photographic evidence of the traps, bait stations or poles
• receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable

You must also keep records to evidence scheduled maintenance of the traps, bait stations or poles and provide on request.

As 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 you can use with this item

Capital plans

You can use this item with these plans:

PA3: Woodland management plan

PA7: Species management plan

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions

You can use this item with CWD2: Woodland improvement.

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.

For more information on controlling grey squirrels, read:

• the Forestry Commission operations note 60 on squirrel control and management for more information
• the UKFS Technical note, Controlling grey squirrels in forests and woodlands in the UK

Using squirrel traps

When using squirrel traps, you should consider:

• using only legally approved traps and commercially available poles
• the use, siting and protection of traps to prevent the capture of species other than grey squirrels
• not using lethal traps in areas where red squirrels are present
• the protection of a tree if it’s used as an anchor point or support for traps or bait points
• the health and safety of authorised users – care in the use of lethal traps and drey poles

What to include in your management plan

You should identify that grey squirrels are a threat to the woodland’s condition in a woodland management plan.

You should detail control methods including any capital items needed in a species management plan. You must have this approved by a Forestry Commission adviser. [CSHT]: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier [UKFS]: UK Forestry Standard