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Woodland Creation Grant
Purpose This grant supports the establishment of new woodlands that meet national and regional priorities. The grant is available on a competitive and regional basis, using scoring systems that select applications based on best fit with the public benefit priorities. Applications for funding in financial year 2009-10 with a first planting season of winter 2008-09 closed on 30 September 2008 and a summary of applications accepted is now available. We expect to announce in spring 2009 the arrangements for applications for funding in financial year 2010-11 with a first planting season of winter 2009-10. Aim The aim of this grant is to generate the greatest benefits by creating woodlands: - Near to where people live, particularly within the urban fringe.
- For access, recreation and sport.
- Appropriately designed for wildlife, particularly where they can act as protective buffers and link important woodland habitats and other associated natural areas.
- Designed to enhance the landscape.
- To restore former industrial land.
This grant has three elements that can be applied for depending on the eligibility of the site and the applicant.
- Woodland Creation Grant (WCG)
Contributes to the costs of establishing new woodlands that deliver benefits to the public. - Additional Contributions (AC)
Extra contribution towards the costs of creating new woodland in certain situations such as location, and woodland uses (e.g. as public access). - Farm Woodland Payments (FWP)
Compensation for agricultural income lost when creating new woodland on agricultural land.
Grant rates | Woodland Creation Grant categories | Rate per hectare Broadleaves | Rate per hectare Conifers |
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Standard, Small Standard, Native, Community Woodland | £1800 | £1200 | | Special Broadleaved Woodland | £700 | n/a |
Additional Contributions pay between £500 and £2000 for woodlands that are either created near people, provide access or are within Ancient Woodland Priority Areas. Farm Woodland Payments are available for creating woodland on agricultural land. These payments are between £60 and £300 per hectare per year for up to 15 years, depending on the land type being planted and type of woodland being created. Non-farmers are limited to the equivalent of 150 euros/hectare/year irrespective of land or woodland type. Regional scoring for new woodland The FC applies a scoring system to Woodland Creation Grant applications. The highest ranked applications are then considered for grant support. Each region has its own scoring form which should be used for applications within that region. There is also a "fast track score" for each region. If high scoring applications achieve the fast track score or more and there are funds still available, the application will be processed before the 30 September 2008 deadline is reached and a grant offer made. If we receive a large number of high scoring applications relative to the budget available, the applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis.
Applications that fall below the Fast track score will be held until the 30 September deadline. The highest scoring ones will be accepted up to the budget available. Low scoring applications that deliver little public benefit may not be accepted, even if there is funding available. Acceptance of low scoring applications is at the FC’s discretion.
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