Rural Payments and Services

The rabbit proofing of an existing or new stock or deer fence is eligible where we agree that, without such protection, rabbit damage to an area will prevent you from meeting the objectives of the Woodland Creation or Woodland Improvement Grant – Habitats and Species options.

For rabbit proofing:

• you must use galvanised wire netting
• the netting must have a minimum height of 0.9 metres above ground level – excluding turned base of 0.15 metres (total roll height 1.05 metres)
• the mesh size should be no larger than 31 millimetres
• the netting shall be fastened to the fencing and anchored with either turves or pegs – to deter rabbits from digging under the fence
• all gates in fences must also be rabbit proofed

Rabbit netting must be sited appropriately in core black grouse and capercaillie areas. Avoid siting new fences, particularly those with rabbit netting, around brood-rearing sites (for example, bogs, flushes, cotton grass and bilberry-rich areas).

For further guidance please contact your local capercaillie / black grouse project officer or RSPB advisory officer.

We require this item to be in place, meeting minimum specifications and in good order for a period of at least five years following the date you received your payment.