All farmers in England who manage land with hedgerows can apply, provided the hedges meet the scheme’s criteria (e.g. you have management control of both sides of the hedge boundary). BN7 is for filling gaps up to 20m in existing native hedgerows (the hedge must be at least 20m long and predominantly native species, while BN11 covers planting entirely new hedges or filling larger gaps over 20m.

BN7 offers £17.22 per metre of hedgerow gap filled, and BN11 provides £22.97 per metre for new hedges planted. These grants (2025 payment rates) are intended to cover most of the planting costs, such as native plants, protective guards/fencing, and labor.

Applications for BN7 and BN11 are made through the Countryside Stewardship scheme’s process (typically via the Rural Payments online system). You should consult the latest Capital Grants guidance for Countryside Stewardship, prepare the required details (like maps showing where the hedge will be planted or gapped-up), and then submit your application to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) through their online portal.

BN7 and BN11 come with specific rules for planting and maintaining your hedges. Planting can only be done during the dormant season (November–March) using native shrub species, usually planted in two staggered rows at roughly 6 plants per metre to form a thick hedge. You need to prepare a 1.5 m wide planting strip (clear weeds and cultivate soil), protect the new hedge from livestock (e.g. fence it ~1.2 m away from the hedge line) and wildlife (use tree guards), and replace any failed plants by the next season while trimming the young hedge in the first couple of years to encourage bushy growth.

Hedgerows established through BN11 and BN7 provide significant long-term benefits. They create vital habitats and wildlife corridors for birds, pollinators, and other small animals, while also improving the environment by capturing carbon, reducing soil erosion, and curbing water runoff on your land. In addition, well-managed hedges offer practical farm benefits – they serve as windbreaks, shelter for livestock, and durable field boundaries – all of which enhance the farm’s landscape and sustainability.