TE19: Tree guard (narrow weld mesh)
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the tree guard (narrow weld mesh) item.
From: Rural Payments Agency and Natural England Published: 10 July 2026
Grant type: Capital item Areas of interest: Priority habitats, Trees (non-woodland) and Uplands
This item is part of Capital Grants 2026. You must read the 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
£35.67 per guard
How this item benefits the environment
This item protects trees from damage caused by grazing animals and wild animals.
Where you can use this item
You can use this item on trees where you have land under a habitat management, restoration or creation action or option.
You can also use this item in a Higher Tier Capital Grant with AF1: Plant an agroforestry woodland tree or AF2: Plant an agroforestry fruit tree (with the agreement of the Forestry Commission or Natural England).
You can use this item when planting trees with these capital items:
- TE1: Planting standard hedgerow tree
- TE2: Planting standard parkland tree
- TE3: Planting fruit trees
- TE4: Supply and plant tree
You can use this item as part of a Woodland Tree Health grant with TE1: Planting standard hedgerow tree.
You cannot use this item with:
- TE7: Tree guard (large post and rail)
- TE8: Tree guard (small post and rail and wide weld mesh)
What you must do to use this item
You must erect tree guards using:
- 1 wooden post which is at least 6 centimetres (cm) in diameter and 1.5 metres (m) tall when installed
- 3 metal rods which are at least 1cm in diameter and 1m tall when installed
- strong weld mesh (12 to 14 gauge)
The rods must be strong enough to support the weight of the weld mesh.
You must:
- install the post and rods far enough apart to prevent grazing animals from reaching within 15cm of the tree stem
- fix the weld mesh to each of the supports, creating a cylinder around the tree
- protect the trees from animals by using weld mesh with out-turned spikes, or by winding at least 3m of barbed wire around the guard
- design the tree guards so you can access the tree for formative pruning, applying mulch and clearing vegetation around the base
You must not:
- fasten guards to the tree
- attach guards so they rub against, constrict or damage the tree in any way
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
- photographs of the trees to be protected
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.
If you’re applying for this item in a Woodland Tree Health grant application, read the record-keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement Holder’s guide: Woodland Tree Health grants.
Updates to this page
Published 10 July 2026