Option 19 - Management of small woodlands
What this is about
Small woodlands make an important contribution to the character, biodiversity and amenity of the landscape. However, these woodlands are often under-managed and their condition can deteriorate over time because they are under-valued and/or the financial cost of management acts as a deterrent.
This option provides support for the sustainable management of small woodlands.
What this will achieve
Bringing small woodlands, particularly on farms, into active management will increase their value as part of the land holding business and the associated landscape. It will also deliver environmental outcomes including:
- Mitigation of climate change
- Improved soil, water and air quality
- Enhanced landscapes
- Protected and enhanced biodiversity
What you must do
You must carry out an assessment on the condition of all of your woodland and, as a result, identify and record, in the form of a plan, work that is required during the 5 years of the agreement. There is no standard template for the assessment or the content of a plan but the following is suggested:
- Identifying and mapping the woodland types
- Identifying and mapping any management constraints and opportunities
- Assessing and describing the existing and intended woodland structure
- Assessing and describing the existing and intended woodland protection
- Assessing and describing the existing and intended species composition
- Assessing existing threats/damage and intended improvements
- Assessing and describing the existing and intended public assess
- Identifying and mapping the proposed work programme
You can undertake the work requirements, identified as a result of your assessment of the condition of the woodland, over the 5 years of the agreement.
You must adequately protect all your woodland from damage by domestic and wild animals. This also applies to natural regeneration of native species within the woodland.
You must remove all domestic livestock from native woodlands if you are applying for the payment supplement.
You must not allow the presence of non-native vegetation, in the canopy or shrub layers of native woodland, to threaten the condition of your native woodland.
You must not allow any work, carried out in and around your woodland, to have a significant adverse impact on habitats and species of national or regional importance or on features of cultural importance such as known archaeological sites.
Your management and the undertaking of work, such as felling, must be carried out such that the overall character of the landscape is maintained.
Your management of public access through your woodland must be in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Where it is within your control, you must keep your woodland free of inappropriate materials and waste.
All the management of your woodland must comply with the UK Forestry Standard.
Who can apply
Land managers of a holding with at least 1 hectare and no more than 30 hectares of woodland.
How to apply
Complete Section 4 of the LMO application form and columns M and N of your SAF Data Sheet using one of the following codes. The code required for managing the woodland is LMOSWN and for the stock exclusion supplement you must also enter the code LMOSWS.
Eligibility criteria
Your total woodland area must be at least 1 hectare and no more than 30 hectares. Individual areas of woodland must be no less than 0.1 hectare.
You must not include in this Option, any woodland which is currently in receipt of grant aid for its maintenance under another grant scheme e.g. WGS, SFGS, RSS, RDC - RP. This also applies to woodland planted under LMO Option 18.
What costs could be supported
We will provide support for undertaking the work that has been identified and recorded in your plan for the 5 years of the agreement.
We will provide additional support for the removal of domestic livestock from areas of native woodland.
Rate of support
This is a 5 year commitment. The payment rate for managing the woodland, in accordance with a plan, is £28/hectare/year.
The payment supplement for the removal of domestic livestock from native woodland is £41/hectare/year.
Inspections and verification
We will inspect the management of the woodland against the required work identified in your plan and that the requirements listed in "what you must do" are being met.
Where applicable, we will inspect to confirm that domestic livestock has been removed from native woodland.
On agricultural land you must comply with the requirements of cross compliance.
List of links to relevant technical guidance
UK Forestry Standard - www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcfc001.pdf/$FILE/fcfc001.pdf