WN3: Ditch, dyke and rhine restoration
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-03)

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the ditch, dyke and rhine restoration item.

This item is part of Higher Tier Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Higher Tier Capital Grants 2025 guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-tier-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

£5.72 per metre (m).

How this item benefits the environment

It restores the wildlife value of overgrown or neglected ditches and helps to establish raised water levels for restoring or creating habitats.

Where you can use this item

You can use this item in combination with actions or options to manage, restore and create habitats or features with the support of Natural England.

You will need to send an assessment of the existing biological interest of the site (particularly related to protected species) with your application. You can use the Ditch, dyke and rhine restoration assessment form. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-ditch-dyke-and-rhine-restoration-assessment)

You will need to get any necessary consents or permits from the Environment Agency (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency#org-contacts), lead local flood authority or internal drainage board (https://www.ada.org.uk/member_type/idbs/) before starting any work.

You cannot use it for routine agricultural maintenance or to drain land prone to waterlogging.

What you must do to use this item

You must:
- carry out the restoration work between 1 July and 28 February (the exact timing will be determined by the pre-application assessment)
- only re-profile or cut deeper than the original profile by agreement with your adviser
- if re-profiling, create a variety of depths in the channel, typically from 70 centimetres (cm) to 100cm, grading to a shallow, wet, marginal fringe
- if re-profiling, make sure the profile varies, with most of the slopes typically between 30 and 45 degrees
- work from one bank in an upstream direction, only restoring half the ditch in any one restoration period (between July and February)
- restore one side of the ditch along its full length, or alternate 100m sections along both sides
- retain any in-channel features such as gravel beds, riffles and natural meanders
- secure material at the downstream end of the ditch during dredging or re-profiling to capture silt in the water, and remove this when any silt has settled
- place the spoil on top of the bank or in the field next to it, making sure that it is not used to fill hollows or low areas within the field
- make sure the spoil is not placed on historic or archaeological features
- spread the spoil thinly to prevent a spoil bank from forming
- place all fences at least 1m away from the edge of the bank top
You may need to create berms (a narrow ledge) along the sides of the ditch.

You should discuss and agree requirements that are specific to your site with your adviser.

Evidence you must keep

You must keep and provide with your claim:
- photographs of the completed work
- any advice, consents or permissions from the Environment Agency, internal drainage board, lead local flood authority or Historic England
- the assessment of the existing biological interest of the site
You must also keep and provide on request:
- any consents or permissions connected with the work (in addition to the ones provided with your claim)
- receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
- photographs of the site before works start
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, 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).

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.

Where to use this item

Use this item on ditches that have silted up through neglect and have channels that need clearing and banks reprofiling.

You can also use this item to prevent the degradation of historic environment features and waterlogged archaeological deposits by helping to support high water levels.

Re-profiling ditches, dykes and rhines

The profile of restored ditches, dykes and rhines should reflect the character of existing features in the local area.

You should usually clean out the ditch within its existing shape and depth. Unless agreed with your Natural England adviser, you should not re-profile the ditch. This means changing its:
- width
- depth
- shape
- angle of the ditch side