Woodland Capital Grants February 23, 2015 12:00 am The Woodland Capital Grants scheme opened on the 17th February 2015. The scheme is available for woodland creation, woodland management plans (to use in a Countryside Stewardship Scheme application) and tree health issues. Full details of the scheme including capital item prescriptions and payment rates can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-countryside-stewardship-woodland-capital-grants-2015/guide-to-countryside-stewardship-woodland-capital-grants-2015. Applications Applications for tree health and management plans can be submitted between 17th Feb 2015 and 30th June 2015 with draft agreements provided within 11 weeks. The process for woodland creation grants is a little more complicated, applications must be submitted by 30th April, a site visit and any amendments will then be carried out with final submission required by 31st May 2015. Applications for new woodland creation must go onto a public register for 28 days, members of the public can then comment on or raise objections to the proposals. The Forestry Commission can then request amendments depending on the public response. This process must be completed before an application is granted, if it runs beyond 30th September 2015 the application will be rolled over to the next year. Applicants must be registered on the Rural Payments System and will need to contact their local Forestry Commission office. Scoring The scheme is competitive and agreements will be scored against Rural Development objectives and local priorities. Applications must gain a minimum of six points, points are awarded for biodiversity, water and climate change. Points are also available for partnership working and application size. Points under each category will be dependent on the woodland location (area priorities) and what work is being carried out. Priority areas can be viewed using the Land Information Service website. The scoring form can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-grant-woodland-capital-grants-2015. Unsuccessful applications can be resubmitted the following year. Payments Payments are dependent on the capital items undertaken. Woodland creation has a maximum payment (planting and protection) of £6,800 per hectare. Tree health payments for a ancient woodland site with native species is £3,500, non native is £1,750. Other sites can receive up to £2,750 for native species and £2,250 for non native. Capital items will be paid in the 2015/16 or 2016/17 claim year depending on when the work is completed. Capital items must remain in place and in good working order for a minimum of 5 years from the date of the payment. Claims will be paid within 28 days. Woodland maintenance payments are paid each year for ten years. The first payment claim can be submitted the January after the planting season (October to March). Foe example, a wood planted in December 2015 would claim in January 2017 and receive payment the following December. Full details of the CSS are expected in the summer.
