Rural Payments and Services

This item is for the installation of a small perch bench along access routes that are intended to meet the Countryside for All access standards where a seat or perch is required at a minimum of 100 metre intervals. Particular consideration should be given to sites at the bottom or top of steeper sections of path. Care should be taken to avoid furniture becoming the dominating feature along a path and a mixture of different types of furniture should be used to assist in achieving this.

Your Woods In and Around Towns Operational Plan map must clearly identify where the perch seat will be positioned.

Perch seat:

• may be constructed from treated timber, recycled plastic or steel
• seat should be placed close to the path
• seat should be planed and round-edged, and free draining, with galvanised screws or bolts countersunk
• main leg(s) should be sturdy, minimum 100x100 millimetre section if timber, in holes backfilled with well-rammed earth and stones, plus concrete if required, and with larger rocks wedged at toe and heel of the upright to prevent movement
• height of the seat should be between 550 and 750 millimetres above a firm, level surface

Please ensure you abide by conditions set out in the Forestry Grant Scheme claim form and guidance.

Countryside Access Design Guide – Perch Seat

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