£7,500 capital grants for environmental work in Wales

Welsh farmers will be able to apply for the Small Grants – Environment scheme from 24 August, which this time around will offer capital grants for work that will support pollinators or help to maintain traditional landscape features.

The scheme offers capital grants of up to £7,500 a business for a variety of main capital works, including hedge laying, hedge planting, stone wall restoration, pond restoration and the planting of trees and shrubs.

Landowners undertaking any of these main works can also apply for funding for supportive capital works, which might include fencing to protect a new hedge from damage or the installation of timber field gates, stiles, kissing gates or bracken control.

See also: £18m in nutrient management grants on offer in Wales

The payment rates are £5.53/m for hedge laying, £4.50/m for hedge planting to attract pollinators, £3.07/sq m for pond restoration work and £11.25 each for planting native trees at least 1.8m tall.

Farmers can apply for a payment of £40/tree to install parkland tree stock guards, £5.40/m for rabbit fencing and £10.40/m for post and rail fencing.

There are 13 main capital works to choose from, with 22 supportive works options.

Map guidance

The Welsh government has published maps that show farmers the likelihood of applications for certain options being accepted across Wales.

There is a budget of £1.5m waiting to be spent, which would support 200 claims if everyone applies for the maximum amount.

The first stage in the application process is to submit an expression of interest using the RPW Online platform, which will be scored on the basis of what the project will deliver to the environment and meeting target objectives in a specific area.

Successful applicants will then be sent a contract and will have 30 days in which to accept or decline.

The application window close on 5 October 2022.