Why the focus on hedges?

Hedgerows are vital for biodiversity, soil health and carbon capture. Offering shelter and nesting for farmland birds, insects and mammals, they are a reliable, long-term habitat across the UK.

We continue to see investment on farm into both improving hedgerows and extending hedgerow habitat. The hedgerow management actions in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) have been extremely popular - according to the SFI action uptake data as of October 2025, approximately 203 million metres of hedgerows are in the action HRW1/CHRW1 Assess and Record Hedgerow Condition.

Capital Grant Scheme 2025

The Capital Grant Scheme provides funding for growers that helps improve the environment and increases biodiversity on farm. Last year, in the 2025 Capital Grant Scheme there were 78 items available to be applied for, with seven relating to hedgerow improvement including laying, coppicing, gapping-up, planting new hedges and supplements to support hedgerows.

Growers’ agreements continue to go live. If you have applied for this scheme, please see some handy tips below:

• Remember to send your options map to the RPA. Applications can be held up because applicants didn’t send their map in with their Capital Grant application. This was a requirement and has meant that some applications have been slowed down.

• Agreements run for a maximum of 3 years. Within your agreement documentation you can find your start and end dates.

• You can only submit a claim after you have finished your capital works and been charged or invoiced from a contractor or supplier for the capital items.

• You have 3 months after your agreement has finished to submit your final claim.

• If you have been accepted and you now have a live agreement, the full guidance for agreement holders can be found on the GOV.UK website here.

If you were not able to apply last year, DEFRA has stated that the next round of Capital Grant funding will be available this year.

BN11 and BN7 action requirements

As with all public funding schemes, each action has a list of requirements that must be met in order to be compliant. A reminder that for BN11 – planting new hedges and BN7 – gapping up existing hedges the following must be done.

• Plant between 1st November- 31st March

• Use two-year-old transplants, between 450-600mm high

• Use native species and ensure no single species makes up more than 70% of the mix

• Plant in two rows, 40cm apart, ensure that planting is staggered and at least six plants per metre.

You need to make sure that you put in plants in with the correct specification otherwise it will not be compliant with the agreement requirements.

How Frontier experts can support you

We can provide a wide range of hedge plants, trees and shrubs. Whether you need to gap up an existing hedgerow or create a new area, we will be pleased to help.

• With many years of practical experience in this area we can advise on the designs and species selection as required. We can help fulfil any requirements under Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants.

• We offer a broad range of plants which are grown on prime agricultural land in the UK.  The plants are from UK provenance with a wide range of native broadleaf trees and hedge plants on offer.

• All plants are grown from locally sourced seeds ensuring the plants meet high quality standards and will grow well in UK weather conditions.

• Once agreed on the makeup of your project, we can supply the nursery stock and required protection. Hedge plants can be brought in individual packs of 25 where certain species are required.

• We can supply; blackthorn, dog rose, field maple, guelder rose, hawthorn, hazel and many more. In addition, we also offer mixed hedging packs.

• As well as all our native hedge and tree plants we can also supply tree shelters and spirals (biodegradable options available) and bamboo canes.

Please get in touch with your local advisor for support with your hedgerow project.   Email: info@frontierag.co.uk  Tel: 0800 227445