TE2: Planting standard parkland tree

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

£123.94 per tree.

How this item benefits the environment

Establishing new standard trees to replace lost trees and restore wood pasture increases biodiversity and helps capture carbon.

Where you can use this item

You can only use this item with the approval of Natural England (or an adviser acting on their behalf) on land parcels in these actions:

• CWD20: Create wood pasture
• CWD21: Restore wood pasture and parkland
• CWD22: Manage wood pasture and parkland

You can also use this item on land parcels in these Countryside Stewardship options:

• WD4: Management of wood pasture and parkland
• WD5: Restoration of wood pasture and parkland
• WD6: Creation of wood pasture
• WD10: Management of upland wood pasture and parkland
• WD11: Restoration of upland wood pasture and parkland
• WD12: Creation of upland wood pasture

What you must do to use this item

You must:

• carry out work between 1 November and 31 March
• plant each tree in a pit deep and wide enough to contain the full depth and width of the root system
• plant native species at least 2 metres (m) tall
• use flexible and adjustable tree ties (for example rubber ties) to prevent wind damage
• maintain stakes and ties until the tree is established – remove them when the tree no longer needs support
• protect trees from livestock and wild animal damage
• control weeds until the trees have become established
• replace dead trees in the following planting season – at the end of the agreement, there must be at least one living tree in good condition

You must not:

• plant trees beneath or within 20m of overhead power lines or other overhead and underground services
• let tree guards damage the growing tree
• fasten guards to the tree itself

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

Evidence you must keep

You must keep photographs of the completed work and provide them 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
• the date, location and method of any weed control carried out
• the dates of planting
• details of age, height and species of each tree planted
• photographs of the location where each tree will be planted

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 capital items you can use with this item

You can use this item with these items:

• TE6: Tree guard (tube and mesh)
• TE7: Tree guard (wood post and rail)
• TE8: Tree guard (wood post and wire)