FY5: Create 3-zone rides in woodland

This item is part of Higher Tier Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Higher Tier 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

Up to 40% of actual costs

How this item benefits the environment

Creating space within a woodland to manage a new 3-zone ride will increase the types of vegetation in the woodland. Increasing the extent of permanent open space within the woodland habitat can improve biodiversity.

Where you can use this item

You can use this item to create 3-zone rides if you have identified that a more complex ride structure is required in your woodland management plan.

You can use it with CWD2: Woodland improvement and CWS11: 3-zone rides supplement to manage the zone once created:

A ride is a linear open space in a woodland. In most woodlands, rides are access paths or tracks. It allows light to reach the ground through an open canopy. In a 3-zone ride the shrubs and herbaceous layer are separated on each side of the ride.

You cannot use this item without the consent of the Forestry Commission.

What you must do to use this item

You must create a 3-zone ride in line with a Forestry Commission approved woodland management plan and consider the:

• orientation – preferably create the ride along a route than runs from east to west
• topography – consider siting on a south-facing slope where possible
• pressure from deer grazing the herbaceous sward and how it’ll be managed
• opportunities to link existing and potential open habitat

You can also create 3-zone rides adjacent to forest tracks and roads with the agreement of your Forestry Commission adviser.

You must:

• create a 3-zone ride in line with a Forestry Commission approved woodland management plan
• provide at least 3 written quotations for completion of the work with your application, identifying associated costs
• agree the selected quotation with the Forestry Commission
• compete the works to the agreed specification and timescale

You cannot use this item without the consent of the Forestry Commission and a felling licence (if needed).

Evidence you must keep

You must keep and provide with your claim:

• receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is not available
• photographs of the completed work
• a detailed specification document
• copies of any planning or other permission
• any other consents or permissions

You must also keep and provide on request:

• a copy of the advice from the Forestry Commission
• a Forestry Commission approved woodland management plan
• photographs of site before works start
• a copy of consent from Historic England to use the item on a scheduled monument
• a copy of consent from Natural England to use the item on a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)

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, read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide.

Other items you can use with this item

You can use this item with PA3: Woodland management plan.

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.

When creating a 3-zone ride:

• look to connect existing areas of open habitat
• orientate it in an east-west direction to maximise sunlight hours
• make the width of the ride greater than the height of the adjacent canopy
• manage it by cutting 50 metres (m) to 100m strips on a rotational basis
• make it with wavy edges to maximise the woodland edge and increase habitat diversity

Before widening existing rides, be aware of sensitive plant communities and veteran trees (particularly in ancient woodlands). [CSHT]: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier [SSSI]: site of special scientific interest *[m]: metres