How to Use Countryside Stewardship BN11 to Fund Your New Hedgerow
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What is BN11?
BN11 is a Countryside Stewardship capital grant that covers the cost of establishing a new hedgerow. It's available to farmers and landowners in England through Natural England and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). The payment covers plants, guards, and stakes per metre of new hedgerow planted.
Who Can Apply?
If you're a farmer or landowner looking to plant a new hedgerow, you may be able to get it funded through the Countryside Stewardship scheme. Option BN11 — Hedgerow Establishment — pays you to plant new native hedgerows on your land, helping to restore biodiversity, reduce runoff, and reconnect wildlife habitats.
What Species Are Eligible?
To qualify, you must use native species. The most commonly used are:
- Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
- Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
- Field Maple (Acer campestre)
- Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
- Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
A mix of at least 3–5 native species is recommended for biodiversity value.
When to Plant?
Bare root hedging plants are planted between November and March when the plants are dormant. This also aligns well with the BN11 planting window, so ordering your bare root stock in advance — from September onwards — ensures you're ready when the season opens.
How We Can Help
At Stoneybrook Nursery, we supply native bare root hedging in bulk quantities, ideal for BN11 projects. Whether you need 25 plants for a field corner or hundreds of metres of mixed native hedging, we can supply the right species in the right sizes.