Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this item is to allow river banks to be protected using sustainable natural methods where agricultural land, infrastructure or assets are at risk, whilst maintaining or improving habitat availability, biodiversity and water quality.

These areas may be more vulnerable to erosion due to lack of natural riparian vegetation. Such areas may have been damaged by historic livestock poaching, historic livestock grazing and/or loss of large shrubs/trees or other deep rooted riparian vegetation which would otherwise naturally be present.

This item will reduce the input of fine sediments to the river, increase bank stability during flooding and can provide biodiversity benefits through the creation of natural habitats.

River banks prone to erosion where that erosion poses a threat to agricultural land, infrastructure or assets e.g. roads, bridges, farm tracks or walls etc where current and historic land management activities have contributed to the river bank becoming vulnerable to erosion.

The land management activities that have contributed to the river bank becoming vulnerable to erosion must be identified and addressed in the application to prevent recurrence. For example, inclusion of appropriate management options and capital items to restrict livestock access to the river bank where livestock access/poaching is identified as the cause of the erosion.

You can check if this item is available on your holding using the targeting tool which can be found in the Management Options and Capital Items guidance.

You must prepare a plan showing the locations of the bank(s) you propose to restore on a 1:2500 scale map.

The plan must detail the proposed length of bank to be restored and the materials.

You must protect the river bank(s) using at least one of the following:

• willow spilling
• plant roll revetment
• hurdle and coir matting
• engineered log jams

Fencing or other means of protection against damage from grazing animals must be put in place wherever live trees have been used.

You must have completed all the necessary pre-works assessments and designs, and obtained all relevant permissions / approvals, prior to commencing the works and submitted these with the claim.

You can claim:

• willow spilling – £185 per metre
• plant roll revetment – £210 per metre
• hurdle and coir matting – £65 per metre
• engineered log jams payment will be made on actual costs, up to a maximum of £210 per metre

There are separate management options to support the restoration of river banks:

• Water Margins in Grassland Fields
• Grass Strips in Arable Fields
  

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work
• you have protected the river bank(s) using at least one of the following:
  • willow spilling
  • plant roll revetment
  • hurdle and coir matting
  • engineered log jams

Supporting guidance is available for this item.

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