PA7 Species Management Plan Grant Explained | WILDFORCE LTD
Effective wildlife management starts with a clear plan.
For landowners dealing with deer, grey squirrels, or other invasive and problematic species, understanding the impact on your land is essential before deciding what management measures are needed.
The PA7 Species Management Plan is a Countryside Stewardship Capital Grant designed to help eligible landowners prepare a professional species management plan. Importantly for woodland owners, PA7 specifically covers deer, including both native and non-native species, and grey squirrels.
The plan can then provide the foundation for longer-term species control and management through other Countryside Stewardship actions and capital items.
At WILDFORCE LTD, we provide professional deer and grey squirrel management services designed to support landowners with practical, evidence-based wildlife management.
What Is the PA7 Species Management Plan?
PA7: Species Management Plan is a Countryside Stewardship Capital Grant that provides funding towards preparing a management plan for species that need to be controlled or managed on eligible land.
The current grant pays £204.79 per species type per approved plan, up to a maximum of £1,023.95. Deer, including native and non-native deer, are counted as one species type, while grey squirrel is another.
The purpose of PA7 is not to pay directly for all the ongoing control work. Instead, it funds the preparation of the management plan that establishes:
What species needs managing
What impact that species is having
Where management will take place
Which control methods will be used
What resources will be required
This makes PA7 an important planning tool for landowners looking to take a structured approach to wildlife management.
Which Species Can Be Included?
PA7 can be used to create management plans for several species and species groups.
These include:
Deer – native and non-native species
Grey squirrel
American mink
Edible dormouse
Invasive non-native plant species
For landowners working with WILDFORCE LTD, the two particularly relevant areas are deer management and grey squirrel management.
PA7 Deer Management Plans
Deer can have a significant impact on woodland condition, natural regeneration, forestry, agriculture, and biodiversity.
Depending on the location, landowners may be managing species such as:
Sika deer
Fallow deer
Roe deer
Red deer
Muntjac
Chinese Water Deer
Where deer numbers or browsing pressure are preventing woodland objectives from being achieved, a structured management plan can help establish a long-term approach.
A PA7 deer species management plan should identify the impact deer are having on the land, the areas and habitats where control will take place, and the methods and resources proposed for management.
PA7 Grey Squirrel Management Plans
Grey squirrels can cause serious damage to broadleaf woodlands through bark stripping.
This can reduce timber quality, affect tree health, increase susceptibility to disease, and interfere with long-term woodland management objectives.
A PA7 species management plan can provide the framework for controlling and managing grey squirrel populations where they are causing environmental or forestry damage.
This can then be linked with longer-term management under CWS3 Grey Squirrel Control and Management where the relevant requirements are met.
How Much Does PA7 Pay?
The current PA7 payment is:
£204.79 per species type per approved plan
There is a maximum payment of:
£1,023.95 per approved plan
For example, deer are counted as one species type even where several deer species are present. Grey squirrel is counted as another species type.
Because grant rates and scheme requirements can change, landowners should always check the latest official Countryside Stewardship guidance before applying.
What Must the PA7 Plan Include?
A PA7 species management plan needs to provide clear information about the species being managed and the proposed control programme.
The plan should explain:
The Impact of the Species
What damage or environmental impact is the species causing on the land?
For deer, this could include:
Excessive browsing
Suppressed woodland regeneration
Damage to young trees
Habitat degradation
Agricultural damage
For grey squirrels, this could include:
Bark stripping
Tree damage
Reduced timber quality
Impacts on woodland regeneration
The Areas Being Managed
The plan should identify the areas and habitats where species control will take place.
This is important because wildlife impacts are rarely distributed evenly across an entire property.
Control Methods and Resources
The plan should explain the proposed management methods and the resources required to deliver them.
This creates a clear link between the identified problem and the management solution.
Who Approves the PA7 Plan?
For deer, grey squirrel and edible dormouse, completed PA7 plan templates are submitted to the Forestry Commission for approval.
For American mink, Natural England is responsible for approval.
Different arrangements apply to invasive non-native plant species depending on whether the work takes place in woodland or other habitats.
This is important because the PA7 plan must be approved before it can support the wider management strategy.
PA7 and CWS1 Deer Management
One of the biggest advantages of PA7 for deer management is its relationship with CWS1: Deer Control and Management.
PA7 can provide the planning foundation for a wider deer management programme.
A landowner could therefore have:
PA7 Species Management Plan
↓
CWS1 Deer Control and Management
↓
Deer management infrastructure and monitoring
This creates a much more structured approach than simply reacting to deer damage.
The current guidance specifically lists CWS1 Deer Control and Management as an action that can be used with PA7.
PA7 and CWS3 Grey Squirrel Management
The same principle applies to grey squirrels.
A PA7 grey squirrel management plan can establish the basis for a wider control programme, including CWS3: Grey Squirrel Control and Management where the relevant eligibility requirements are met.
This can be particularly valuable for woodland owners experiencing significant bark stripping and timber damage.
The objective should be long-term woodland protection rather than short-term reactive control.
PA7 Can Work Alongside Deer Management Infrastructure
The current PA7 guidance also lists a number of deer management capital items that can be used alongside the species management plan.
These include:
FG9 – Deer fencing
FG10 – Temporary deer fencing
FG11 – Deer exclosure plot
FG16 – Deer pedestrian gate
FG17 – Deer vehicle gate
FY1 – Deer high seat
It also lists FY3 – Squirrel traps and maintenance and SM1 – Training to control and manage deer among compatible capital items.
This makes PA7 particularly useful as part of a broader woodland and wildlife management strategy.
Why a Species Management Plan Matters
One of the biggest mistakes landowners can make is treating wildlife management as a collection of isolated jobs.
A few deer culled here, some fencing there, or occasional squirrel control may reduce damage temporarily, but without an overall strategy it can be difficult to demonstrate whether the management is actually working.
A species management plan brings the different elements together.
It establishes:
The problem → The impact → The management area → The control method → The resources → The long-term objective
That is far more robust than simply responding to individual incidents.
PA7 and Woodland Management
For woodland owners, species management should form part of the wider woodland strategy.
Deer and grey squirrels can both undermine woodland objectives.
For example, a landowner may want to encourage natural regeneration, but heavy deer browsing prevents young trees from establishing.
Similarly, a woodland may have excellent timber potential, but repeated bark stripping from grey squirrels reduces timber quality.
The species management plan helps identify these pressures and establish a structured response.
Habitat Impact Assessments
For deer, grey squirrel, or edible dormouse species management plans, the government guidance notes that landowners may wish to complete a habitat impact assessment in years 1, 5 and 10 of their PA7 agreement.
These assessments are advice rather than a mandatory requirement for payment, but they can provide useful evidence of how management is progressing over time.
For a professional wildlife management programme, ongoing monitoring can be extremely valuable.
It allows landowners to determine whether:
Deer browsing pressure is reducing
Woodland regeneration is improving
Squirrel damage is declining
Habitat condition is recovering
Management objectives are being achieved
How WILDFORCE LTD Can Help
At WILDFORCE LTD, we understand that successful wildlife management starts with understanding the problem.
Our professional services can support landowners with:
Deer Management
Professional deer surveys, impact assessment, population management, and ongoing deer control.
Grey Squirrel Management
Monitoring squirrel activity, assessing bark damage, and implementing professional grey squirrel control programmes.
Habitat Assessments
Identifying the impact wildlife is having on woodland and other habitats.
Species Management Support
Providing practical information and professional wildlife management input to help landowners develop appropriate management strategies.
Ongoing Monitoring
Monitoring wildlife impacts over time to assess whether management objectives are being achieved.
Why Choose WILDFORCE LTD?
Wildlife management needs to be practical.
A plan is only valuable if it can be implemented safely, legally, and effectively in the field.
WILDFORCE LTD works with landowners, estates, farms, forestry businesses, and conservation organisations to deliver professional wildlife management tailored to individual sites.
Our focus is on long-term solutions that protect land, woodland, biodiversity, and commercial interests while maintaining responsible wildlife management practices.
What Evidence Do You Need to Keep?
Landowners using PA7 need to retain evidence associated with their approved species management plans.
This includes:
A copy of the approved species management plan template
A map showing where species management will take place
Relevant invoices or bank statements where specialist advice is used
The government guidance sets out the specific evidence and record-keeping requirements that apply to PA7 agreements.
Keeping accurate records is an important part of managing any grant-funded wildlife programme.
PA7: A Foundation for Long-Term Wildlife Management
PA7 should not be viewed simply as a grant for producing paperwork.
Its real value is in creating a structured management strategy.
For a woodland experiencing deer damage, the process might look like:
PA7 Species Management Plan
→ Assess deer impact
→ Identify affected woodland
→ Establish management objectives
→ Develop control strategy
→ Apply relevant deer management actions
→ Use appropriate infrastructure
→ Monitor woodland recovery
→ Review management outcomes
This approach gives landowners a much clearer picture of what they are trying to achieve and how they will measure progress.
Contact WILDFORCE LTD
If deer or grey squirrels are affecting your woodland, estate, farm, or conservation land, WILDFORCE LTD can help you develop a practical approach to wildlife management.
From deer surveys and habitat impact assessments to professional deer control and grey squirrel management, we provide reliable wildlife management services tailored to your land.
If you're considering PA7 Species Management Plan funding, contact WILDFORCE LTD to discuss your requirements and how professional wildlife management could support your wider woodland or species management objectives.
Contact WILDFORCE LTD today to discuss your deer or grey squirrel management requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PA7 Species Management Plan Grant?
PA7 is a Countryside Stewardship Capital Grant that provides funding towards the preparation of a species management plan for eligible species requiring control or management.
How much does PA7 pay?
The current payment is £204.79 per species type per approved plan, up to a maximum of £1,023.95.
Does PA7 cover deer?
Yes. PA7 specifically covers deer, both native and non-native, which are counted as one species type.
Does PA7 cover grey squirrels?
Yes. Grey squirrel is one of the species specifically covered by the PA7 Species Management Plan item.
Can PA7 be used with CWS1?
Yes. The current guidance specifically lists CWS1 Deer Control and Management as an action that can be used with PA7.
Can PA7 be used with CWS3?
Yes. CWS3 Grey Squirrel Control and Management is also listed as compatible with PA7.
Can PA7 be used with a deer high seat grant?
Yes. The PA7 guidance lists FY1 Deer High Seat as a compatible capital item.
Who approves a deer or grey squirrel PA7 plan?
The Forestry Commission approves PA7 plan templates for deer, grey squirrel and edible dormouse.
Can I use PA7 if I already have a species management plan?
No. The current guidance states that PA7 cannot be used where you already have an existing plan detailing the management of the species.
Can WILDFORCE LTD help with species management?
WILDFORCE LTD provides professional deer and grey squirrel management, habitat assessments, monitoring, and wildlife control services to help landowners implement effective long-term management strategies.