This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New Forestry schemes
27/08/2002
Special arrangement are to be made to ensure that new
planting is not disrupted next spring prior to the new
Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme being implemented.
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development
Alan Wilson said:
"The Forestry Commission is today issuing detailed
guidance to prospective applicants to help explain how they
can ensure that planting proposals for Spring 2003 will be
acceptable for conversion to the new scheme when it
opens
"The Commission are also arranging seminars across the
country in September to supplement the guidance."
The leaflet is available from local Forestry Commission
Conservancy offices and SEERAD local offices.
Or visit the Forestry Commission website:
www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland.
The leaflet was prepared after discussion with industry
representatives and explains how the Forestry Commission
intends to close the Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) to new
applicants in Scotland and start accepting applications for
the new scheme.
It also sets out details of special transitional
arrangements for restocking and new planting for 2002/03
and deals with amendments to existing contracts. The
position of the SEERAD's Farm Woodland Premium Scheme
(FWPS) is also explained in the leaflet.
Public Seminars to raise awareness of the new scheme are
planned at:
- Inverness on September 24
- Perth on September 25
- Dumfries on September 30
The Forestry Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme and
SEERAD's Farm Woodland Premium Scheme were reviewed by an
external Steering Group with the aim of bringing them
closer into line with the Scottish Forestry Strategy and
wider Scottish Executive policy on integrated land use and
community involvement. Ministers announced in June they had
accepted the recommendations of the Steering Group.
Copies of the Steering Group's report are available on
the SE website at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/rural/wgs-00.asp