Forest Surveys
Forest Certification
"I am the heat of your
hearth, the shade
screening you from the
sun; I am the beam
that holds your house,
the board of your table;
I am the handle of your
hoe, the door of your homestead; the wood
of your cradle, and the shell of your coffin.
I am the gift of God and
the friend of man."
-Author Unknown

 

 


 WOODLAND GRANTS           Bookmark and Share

Sometimes the woodland grant system can be a complicated process to navigate your way around particularly when the grants available are always changing. We have more than 15 years experience in providing practical advice for woodland owners to draw down grants under the English Woodland Grant Scheme and the Better Woodlands for Wales Scheme. The latter has since been replaced by the Glastir Woodland Creation Scheme.

ENGLAND

Subsidised Woodland Management Advice – Heartwoods Advisory Services



If you are a Woodland owners/occupier in any of the above counties, as a Woodland Champion Advisor approved by Heartwoods, we can provide you with subsidised woodland management advisory services. Approved contractors are supported through Heartwoods to deliver a day of professional time at a heavily subsidised cost of £100.00 + VAT per day, which includes:

Site visit to assess your woodland’s potential and discuss management options, including application for the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS);

High quality, written report summarising your woodland’s characteristics, available grant support and its economic potential e.g. timber production and woodfuel opportunities;

All travel and other expenses.

Find out more about Heartwoods

English Woodland Grant Scheme

The following grants are also available to woodland owners throughout England;

  • Woodland Planning Grant (WPG) – a contribution towards the cost of the preparation of a long-term management plan, using the FC template, which is designed to meet UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS) requirements.
  • Woodland Assessment Grant (WAG) – available at the FC’s discretion to help meet the costs of the gathering of specific information concerning the sensitivity of a site in relation to proposed work.
  • Woodland Regeneration Grant (WRG) – restocking grants, at various rates, the highest level being for the restocking of former Planted Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) with native species.
  • Woodland Management Grant (WMG) – eligibility is restricted, UKWAS-certified ancient woodlands being the most likely to benefit.
  • Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) – 50% or 80% contribution to the costs of specific works such as addressing the decline of woodland birds, thereby contributing to UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets and providing public access needs.
  • Woodfuel (WIG). This is the new WIG (60% actual costs) to support roading access and preparing timber sales in under-managed woods. This will support activity up to the point of timber sale and help bring more timber onto the market.
  • Woodland Creation Grant (WCG) – subject to the FC’s regional budgets and being able to reach the annually set scoring threshold, WCG provides grant aid at various levels and remains the key to access to annual Farm Woodlands payments.

Find out more about the English Woodland Grant Scheme

WALES

Glastir Woodland Creation Scheme

Having worked as a Forestry Commission approved management planner under the former Better Woodlands for Wales scheme, Martin Jones has now been officially approved by Forestry Commission Wales as a project manager to prepare woodland creation  plans on behalf of owners throughout Wales under Glastir. Only Forestry Commission approved project managers are in a position to prepare plans.

Martin works closely with the owner in the planting design and layout according to the UK Forest Standard Guidelines. He uses the Ecological Site Classification model to arrive at the right species planting mix for the site, thereby reducing replacement costs ("beating up") for the owner later on.

His expertise allows him to advise owners on planting stock suppliers, quality control, ground preparation, post-planting after-care and project cashflow. He realises that owners may wish to employ their own contractors to complete the work but he can recommend contractors if required.

Grants are available for new planting, even for areas as small as 0.25 Ha.

Fencing grant rates are £3.15 per metre, which includes an allowance for gates.

As well as the basic grants, there are Income Foregone Payments under the "Woodland Creation Premium" (WCP) for farmers of  £300 per hectare per year for 15 years and £66/ha./yr for non-farmers for 15 years.

PDF iconFind out more about Glastir rules and grant rates

In the UK, Martin B. Jones, Managing Director of the Woodland Stewardship Company, has been employed by several FSC approved certifiers, including the Soil Association and SmartWood, to carry out Forest Management, Resource Manager and Group certifications according to the UKWAS Standard.

We have significant expertise and experience in assisting landowners becoming UKWAS certified. We can simplify the process and thereby reduce costs for the owner.

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