Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this item is to protect an existing or newly created habitat or landscape feature from grazing livestock, either on a long term or temporary / seasonal basis

Any land is eligible.

For scare fencing, this item must be undertaken with the Restoring Drystone or Flagstone Dykes item.

For temporary electric fencing, the area to benefit from this fencing must be included in a management option or a newly created capital item.

You must identify the locations of the proposed fencing on a map.

For temporary electric fencing, you must also detail when the fence will be in use.

For scare fencing:

• you must erect the scare fence either on metal stanchions set in the dyke or running alongside one or both sides of the dyke
• the fence must consist of a minimum of two wires on wooden posts or metal stanchions at intervals of not more than six metres apart
• all fencing materials must be new

For temporary electric fencing:

• you must create an effective barrier against the category of livestock being controlled by using single wire, multiple wires, netting, electrified tape or electrified rope
• all fencing materials and equipment must be new

For both:

• you must maintain a diary

You can claim:

• £2.46 per metre for scare fencing
• £1.69 per metre for temporary electric fencing

You may apply for payment on an actual cost basis for this item if the work you are proposing to carry out will benefit the notified features of a designated site, and where there are exceptional circumstances.

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work
• you have maintained a diary

For scare fencing:

• you have erected the scare fence either on metal stanchions set in the dyke or running alongside one or both sides of the dyke
• the fence consists of a minimum of two wires on wooden posts or metal stanchions at intervals of not more than six metres apart
• all fencing materials are new
  

For temporary electric fencing:

• you have created an effective barrier against the category of livestock being controlled by using single wire, multiple wires, netting, electrified tape or electrified rope
• all fencing materials and equipment are new
  

Click 'Download this page' to create a printer-friendly version of this guidance that you can save or print out.