BN12: Stone wall restoration
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-03)

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the stone wall restoration item.

This item is part of Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Capital Grants 2025 guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-grants-2025) to understand the rules and how to apply. If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht) to understand the rules and how to apply.

How much you’ll be paid

£31.91 per metre (m). The payment rate is for the total length of stone wall being restored, not for each side of the boundary.

How this item benefits the environment

Restoring the stone walls helps control livestock and conserve a traditional landscape.

This item can help you protect, recover and improve biodiversity on your land.

Where you can use this item

You can use this item:
- where you have management control of both sides of the boundary
- where stone walls need restoring – restore means at least one third of the original height needs taking down and rebuilding
- as part of a Woodland Tree Health grant (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/woodland-tree-health-grants-2025)
You cannot use this item:
- on stone walls that are being managed in a Higher Level Stewardship agreement under options EB11 or UB11: Stone wall protection and maintenance
- walls that are being maintained under Sustainable Farming Incentive action BND1: Maintain dry stone walls (https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/bnd1-maintain-dry-stone-walls)
- on sections of walls that are being restored using BN16: Repair stone walls (https://www.gov.uk/capital-grant-finder/bn16-repair-stone-walls)
- if you have received funding in the last 7 years to maintain the same section of stone wall
What you must do to use this item

You must:
- rebuild walls to their original height and profile to match other stone walls found locally
- strip any loose stone back by hand until there are firm stones to build on
- build each face of the bank so there’s a slight slope (‘batter’) with no bulges or depressions along the face of the wall
- make sure the top line of the bank is even and parallel to the ground
- add a filling of solid rocks with each course if it’s part of the traditional construction
- keep all existing wall-side trees and saplings – a wall-side tree forms part of the stone wall or is attached to it so livestock cannot get through the gap
- allow tree growth in any gaps in the wall by making the gaps stockproof with wooden rails
- rebuild stone features into the wall such as sheep creeps, troughs and stiles, where features previously existed
- use original stone where it’s available
- only use imported stone that matches the type, size and style traditional to the area
- haul the stone only when ground conditions are firm enough to prevent damage to neighbouring fields
- remove any surplus materials from the site when you have finished and restore any ground you have disturbed
You must not:
- disturb foundation stones unless it’s necessary to create a firm base
- use topsoil, earth, sand or fine gravel as filling between courses
- use concrete or mortar
- take stone from other walls, banks or buildings on the holding
- place stone on features of archaeological, historic or wildlife value as identified on either your Farm Environment Record, MAGIC (https://magic.defra.gov.uk/) or Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (https://hefer-data.org.uk/)
Evidence you must keep

You must keep a map showing the location of any wall-side trees, saplings and stone features (you can use your Farm Environment Record) and provide it with your application.

You must keep photographs of the completed work and provide with your claim.

You must also keep and provide on request:
- any consents or permissions connected with the work
- receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
- photographs of each length of wall to be restored before work starts
Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agreement-holders-guide-capital-grants-higher-tier-capital-grants-and-protection-and-infrastructure-grants-2025) for more information.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht).

Other capital items you can use with this item

You can use this item with these items:

BN13: Top wiring – stone walls (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/stone-wall-supplement-top-wiring-bn13)

BN14: Stone wall supplement - stone from quarry (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/stone-wall-supplement-stone-from-quarry-bn14)

FG15:Water gates (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/water-gates-fg15)

Advice to help you use this item

The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.

Choosing the right style for the wall

You should restore the wall, so it matches the local stone type and wall style. Distinctive local variation can occur in a small area.

To restore the stone wall successfully, use the same local stone and rebuild with:
- the same size and shape of stone
- stones split to match the local style
Restoring the wall

You should:
- separate and sort copings (covering stones), through stones and building stones for reuse
- lay stones level and pack under each one so that it’ll not move
- if using filling, always bring up the level of the middle of the wall for each course before going to the next one – it should not be possible to see daylight through the wall
- place through stones where the wall is double-faced – they cannot stick out more than 15cm to spread the weight and stresses evenly
- place stones next to each other so they touch as much as possible, covering joints below as you build (for example 1 stone on 2, then 2 stones on 1)
- place each stone with its length reaching well into the wall, not along the outside
- pack coping stones as firmly as possible to cap the wall and tie the whole wall together
- finish the entrances and wall ends with a well-built cheek end
The sides of the wall should slant evenly on both sides, creating an even ‘batter’ from a wide base to a narrower top of the wall. Avoid creating bulges or depressions as it weakens the wall and may cause collapse.

Once the stone wall boundary has been restored to a good condition, you can apply for Sustainable Farming Incentive action BND1: Maintain dry stone (https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/bnd1-maintain-dry-stone-walls) walls to maintain it.