Deer Fencing Grant FG9, £10.27 per metre, Higher Tier Capital Grants 2026

FG9: Deer fencing

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the deer fencing item.

From: Rural Payments Agency and Natural England Published 2 April 2015 Last updated 16 April 2026
— See all updates Grant type: Capital item Areas of interest: Uplands and Woodland This item is part of Higher Tier Capital Grants 2026. You must read the Higher Tier Capital Grants 2026 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

£10.27 per metre (m).

How this item benefits the environment

Protecting newly created or existing woodland and wood pasture from deer browsing, helping sustain the habitat. This supports biodiversity and carbon capture.

Where you can use this item

You can use this item on:

• on woodland or to protect trees planted in an agroforestry system with the agreement of the Forestry Commission
• on wood pasture with the agreement of Natural England
• in a Woodland Tree Health Grant in combination with TE5: Supplement for use of individual tree-shelters (with the agreement of the Forestry Commission)

What you must do to use this item

You must:

• install the fence ensuring the specifications meet the requirements set out in the tables below and in the Forestry Commission: Forest fencing guide
• clear debris from the line of the fence
• make the line of the fence smooth enough so the bottom of the fence sits with the ground (there must be no gaps that deer can enter through)
• make sure the fence is regularly inspected
• maintain the fence so deer cannot enter the land until the trees are large enough that they no longer need protecting
• get the agreement of your adviser if installing metal fence posts on land in a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreement

Specifications for the fence’s woodwork

Species of deer	End posts and turning posts metres by centimetres (cm)	Struts metres by centimetres (cm)	Intermediate stakes metres by centimetres (cm)	Maximum stake spacing metres (m)
Roe	2.8m by 10 to 13cm	2.5m by 8 to 10cm	2.5m by 5 to 8cm	10m
Muntjac	2.8m by 10 to 13cm	2.5m by 8 to 10cm	2.5m by 5 to 8cm	10m
Red/sika/fallow	2.8m by 12 to 18cm	2.5m by 10 to 13cm	2.6m by 8 to 10cm	10m

Specifications for the height of the fence and the size of the mesh

Species of deer	Minimum fence height metres (m)	Maximum mesh size millimetres (mm)
Red and sika	1.8m	200mm by 300mm
Fallow	1.8m	200mm by 220mm
Roe	1.5m	200mm by 150mm
Muntjac	1.5m	75mm by 75mm

What the management plan needs to include

You can only use this item on an existing woodland site if your management plan clearly identifies that deer are present and pose a threat to the site. You do not need a woodland management plan where this item is being used to protect newly planted trees using capital item TE4: Supply and plant tree.

Your adviser will adapt the requirements for this item to your site. You should discuss and agree these requirements with them.

Evidence you must keep

You must keep photographs of the completed work and provide 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
• a Forestry Commission management plan approval letter 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, you must read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide.

Items, supplements and actions you can use with this item

Capital items

You can use this item with the following items:

• FG12: Wooden field gate
• FG14: Badger gate
• FG15: Water gates
• FY6: Restore coppicing in woodland

Supplements

You can use it with these supplements:

FG4: Rabbit fencing supplement

FG5: Fencing supplement – difficult sites

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions

You can use with these actions:

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

Updates to this page

Published 2 April 2015 Last updated 16 April 2026 show all updates
1.
16 April 2026

Updates made to 'Where you can use this item' section.
2.
25 March 2026

The 'Where you can use this item' section has been updated to the following:

You can use this item on woodland with the agreement of the Forestry Commission.
You can use this item on wood pasture with the agreement of Natural England.
3.
3 February 2025

General improvement for clarity.
4.
14 May 2024

Wood pasture added to 'Where to use this item' and 'How this item will benefit the environment' sections.
5.
6 November 2023

Removal of text confirming FG9 Deer fencing availability under Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot), as the SFI Capital offer is no longer available.
6.
13 February 2023

This item is now available for Higher Tier Capital Grants
7.
19 December 2022

The Requirements section of this page has been updated
8.
1 February 2022

'Where to use this item' section updated to include detail on SFI pilot.
9.
5 February 2020

Page updated to show latest record keeping
10.
8 March 2017

Updated for 2017 applications.
11.
29 March 2016

Information updated for applications in 2016.
12.
2 April 2015

First published.
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