TE9: Parkland tree guard - welded steel

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

£402.73 per tree.

How this item benefits the environment

Protect 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

• CWD20: Create wood pasture and parkland
• 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

You cannot use this item to replace existing guards to maintain the parkland’s character.

What you must do to use this item

You must:

• agree a specification for the guards with Natural England
• install the tree guard to the agreed specification
• ensure grazing animals cannot reach the stem of the tree by providing enough clearance around the tree

You must not:

• fasten guards to the tree itself
• allow guards to rub against, constrict or cause damage to the tree

Evidence you must keep

You must keep and provide with your claim:

• photographs of the completed work
• the agreed specification

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
• photographs of the trees to be guarded
• a copy of the agreed specification you’ll provide with your claim

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.

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.

Using tree guards

In parkland and areas with public access, use metal tree guards to protect standard trees from:

• vandalism
• mowing
• livestock
• wild animals

You should use guards traditional to the area.