LV3: Hard bases for livestock drinkers
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-03)

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the hard bases for livestock drinkers 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

£179.15 per base.

How this item benefits the environment

Providing hard bases where livestock can stand to drink reduces the risk of:
- runoff
- water pollution from livestock trampling (poaching) and manures
Where you can use this item

You can use this item in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution caused by farming where livestock are excluded from stream or surface waters.

You cannot use this item:
- under livestock housing, roofs or cattle handling facilities
- within 10 metres (m) of ditches, streams or waterways
- on historic or archaeological features identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (https://hefer-data.org.uk/) (HEFER)
What you must do to use this item

You must:
- dig the soil to a depth of at least 150 millimetres (mm) or down to a naturally occurring hard surface
- extend the dug area around the drinking trough to a width of at least 2.5m
- lay a geotextile membrane over the area before putting down hardcore
- compact hardcore to a depth of at least 150mm
- add at least 50mm of level and dry sand or concrete as a working surface to the finished hardcore (‘blinding’)
- edge the hard base with timber boards
Evidence you must keep

You must keep and provide with your claim:
- photographs of the site during the different stages of construction or contracts, invoices or other documents confirming the technical specification for the completed works
- photographs of the completed works in place and installed
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 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).

Other items you can use with this item

You can use this item with these items:

LV7: Livestock troughs (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/livestock-troughs-lv7)

LV8: Pipework associated with livestock troughs (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/pipework-associated-with-livestock-troughs-lv8)

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.

You should make sure the area chosen is a suitable size for the number of livestock.

British Standards

Check to make sure the work meets relevant British Standards (https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/products-and-services/standards/).