English Woodland Grant Scheme Deadlines

As the current Rural Development round of funding ends on 31^st December 2013, approval for all woodland grants (apart from the Woodland Management Grant) must have been achieved by this date.  The Forestry Commission has updated its submission guidance, and the latest submissions can be made is 30^th August 2013.  Even so, the Commission cannot guarantee that applications will be processed but they will have the best chance.  The only exception to this date is the Woodland Management Grant (WMG), the deadline for this is 31^st December 2013 as the approval deadline for this grant is not until 15^th May 2014 due to the way this scheme is structured.  The FC is also warning applicants not to start work before they have approval as under EU rules this could not be grant funded.  With regards to the transition period in 2014, the FC is still awaiting for clarification from DEFRA how this will be handled.