SFI26 Details Released: Hedgerow structural surveys and maintaining or establishing hedgerow trees scrapped

Defra have just released information about the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 offer. Please CLICK HERE to head to the blog in full.

Key bits relevant to hedgerows are as below:

• CHRW1: Assess and record hedgerow condition – REMOVED
• CHRW3: Maintain or establish hedgerow trees – REMOVED

Reasons for the removal of these funded items were given as below:

“CHRW1 has very high uptake, but it is being removed because it does not deliver direct environmental benefits and therefore gives very low value for money. CHRW3 also has very high uptake and low value for money. The removal of CHRW3 means we will no longer pay specifically for the maintenance of existing hedgerow trees (which gives limited additional environmental benefit because most farmers maintain these trees anyway). However, farmers will still be able to manage hedgerows through CHRW2, which is being retained. There are capital grants (BN11 and TE1) which pay for the creation of new hedgerows, and the planting of new hedgerow trees.”