SM2: Training to control and manage American mink

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 100% of actual costs for each training course

How this item benefits the environment

Training will help you understand the natural behaviour of American mink and reduce the risks they pose to other species.

Where you can use this item

You can only use this item alongside CSP21: American mink control and management with the approval of Natural England.

What you must do to use this item

You must find relevant training courses on how to control and manage American mink. The training course you attend must include:

• training on the ecology and behaviour of mink
• setting and monitoring traps
• keeping records and risk assessments
• humanely dispatching captured mink

Your Natural England advisor can discuss and agree suitable training courses with you.

You must:

• provide a species management plan approved by Natural England with your application
• provide at least 2 written quotations for the course costs with your application (where possible)
• agree which training course you will attend with Natural England
• attend and complete a training course

If you can only find one suitable course, you can attend that course with the agreement of your Natural England adviser.

Evidence you must keep

You must provide evidence that you have completed the training course (for example, a certificate or email from the training provider) when you make your claim for payment.

You must also keep invoices or receipts of training courses you have attended and provide them on request.

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

Capital plans

You can use this item with PA7: Species management plan .

Capital items

You can use this item with these items:

• SM4: Traps for American mink

• SM6: Use monitoring equipment to manage invasive species

*[CSHT]: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier