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  "path": "/2026/05/28/capital-grants-2026-guidance-now-available/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-28T10:36:30.000Z",
  "site": "https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk",
  "tags": [
    "2026 Capital Grants offer is now available on GOV.UK.",
    "I set out how farmers and land managers can start preparing for the 2026 Capital Grants offer",
    "Catchment Sensitive Farming",
    "subscribe to the Farming Blog."
  ],
  "textContent": "Guidance for the 2026 Capital Grants offer is now available on GOV.UK.\n\nThe Capital Grants 2026 manual consists of:\n\n  * applicant’s guidance\n  * agreement holder’s guidance\n  * terms and conditions\n\n\n\nA total of £225 million will be invested through Capital Grants this year to help farmers and land managers carry out environmental improvements across England.\n\nApplications open in July, with funding available for a variety of capital items to support hedgerow and tree planting, restore boundaries, improve natural flood management, and support better air and water quality.\n\nThe available items will continue to be organised into the same 6 groups as last year’s offer:\n\n  * boundaries, trees and orchards\n  * improved water quality\n  * improved air quality\n  * improved natural flood management\n  * assessments\n  * improvements\n\n\n\nFunding limits will continue to apply to 4 of these groups:\n\n  * Up to £25,000 for the air quality, natural flood management and water quality groups\n  * Up to £35,000 for the boundaries, trees and orchards group\n\n\n\nApplications can include items from these groups up to the relevant funding limit, alongside items from the assessments and improvements groups.\n\nIn the same way as last year’s offer, you can submit one eligible application for each Single Business Identifier (SBI) you manage.\n\nDemand for last year’s offer was very high, and we expect strong interest again this year.\n\nCapital Grants have already delivered important benefits for the environment, nature recovery and farming practices across England.\n\nLast year’s offer committed funding for more than 1,200km of new hedgerows, creating valuable habitats for birds and pollinators.\n\nIt also supported the renewal of more than 800 concrete yards, helping improve slurry and effluent management and reduce pollution entering watercourses.\n\n## Changes to some items for 2026\n\nThis year, the agroforestry items and the woodland condition assessment will not be available through Capital Grants. They will instead be available later this year through the Higher Tier Capital Grants offer.\n\nYou can find a list of the items included in this year’s Capital Grants offer in section 5.2 of the applicant’s guidance.\n\nOne item has been withdrawn: TE6: Tree guard (tube and mesh). For 2026, this has been replaced by a new item, TE19: Tree guard (narrow weld mesh).\n\nWe’ve also updated the names and specifications for tree guard items TE7 and TE8.\n\n## Learn more\n\nIn my last post, I set out how farmers and land managers can start preparing for the 2026 Capital Grants offer.\n\nI explained why we are asking for more supporting evidence at the start of the application process this year.\n\nIn 2025, many applications were incomplete, which caused delays and meant some applications were rejected. We therefore ask applicants to provide their supporting evidence together with their application.\n\nI also explained what applicants can do now to prepare. This includes completing previous claims, checking business and land details, making sure maps are accurate, and preparing financial evidence if applying for more than £50,000.\n\nThe post also covered the support available through Catchment Sensitive Farming ahead of the 2026 round, requirements for tenant farmers, and the additional evidence needed for some items, such as consents for historic or archaeological features.\n\nDo please give it a read.\n\nI’ll blog again in July when it’s time to apply, so make sure to subscribe to the Farming Blog.\n\nOnce the offer opens, we’ll also provide updates on the blog when 25%, 50% and 75% of the available funding has been allocated.\n\nBy subscribing, you’ll receive a notification as soon as we publish a new post.",
  "title": "Capital Grants 2026: guidance now available",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-28T11:00:17.000Z"
}