What is this about?
The creation of new woods can deliver a wide range of objectives and benefits depending on their location, species composition and design.
This supports the creation of new woods, appropriately designed, using one of the six options listed below or a matrix of options 1 to 5 inclusive.
- Productive conifer woodland (low cost)
- Productive conifer woodland (high cost)
- Productive broadleaved woodland
- Native woodland
- Naturally regenerated native woodland
- Mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland
What will this achieve?
The creation of new woods must deliver one or more of the following outcomes:
- increasing carbon sequestration to tackle climate change
- providing opportunities for public access and providing associated health and community benefits
- contributing to native woodland expansion targets
- developing woodland habitat networks to improve biodiversity
- improving water quality
- diversifying farmed landscapes
- improving the quality of life by improving derelict, underused and neglected land
- developing a sustained yield of suitable raw material.
What you can do
Plant, protect and maintain new woods that conform to the eligibility criteria of the woodland types used in their design.
Who can apply?
Private owners or occupiers of agricultural and/or non-agricultural land.
Eligibility criteria
The minimum woodland size is shown in the tabulated design criteria below but all new woodland must be at least 15 metres in width.
All planting proposals must comply with the requirements of the UK Forestry Standard.
Planting proposals should be consistent with published regional woodland strategies. Productive woodland must be on land suitable for timber production and be accessible for timber transport (including linkage to suitable public roads).
Productive Woodland
Productive woodland must be on land suitable for timber production and be accessible for timber transport (including linkage to suitable public roads).
Short Rotation Forestry
Planting proposals for the establishment of Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) will only be eligible if the proposals are consistent with the UK Forestry Standard and the appropriate woodland option design criteria. The proposed rotation length should be at least 15 years and you should take account of the technical guidance available at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-7rlm3l
Native Woodlands
Native (including riparian) woodland must contribute to native woodland Habitat Action Plan expansion targets or contribute to Forest Habitat Networks. Planted native woodlands should be designed as described in FC Bulletin 112, 'Creating New Native Woodlands', in order to create woodlands with a diverse structure and a natural woodland character.
Guidance on how to locate native woodland expansion to help develop native woodland habitat networks can be found at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7x7d9w
Proposals to expand native woodlands by natural regeneration will only be considered where there is a high prospect of achieving the required density of trees over the proposed area and within the contract period. For further guidance on the density of trees requirements and eligibility for support, refer to http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-7rlm3l
The planting of juniper is eligible for support and technical guidance on this species can be found at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-7rlm3l
Mixed Conifer/Broadleaf Woodland
The mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland option is available to create woods up to a maximum of 10 hectares. The mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland option must apply to the whole wood and cannot be part of a new wood that is designed as a mixture of woodland creation options. Use of the mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland Option will fall into one of the following design criteria:
Intimate mixture
This mixture will be composed of groups of trees, which are too small and complex to be mapped. However, the groups of trees must be of sufficient size to ensure that both the conifer and broadleaf components will continue to be present throughout the silvicultural rotation. Groups of broadleaf species should comprise of no less than 16 trees.
Discrete mixture
This mixture will be composed of distinct areas of conifer and broadleaf species, which can be mapped. These distinct areas and any open ground must be delineated accurately on the contract map at a scale of 1:10,000.
Design Criteria
The following specific design criteria apply to the different Woodland Creation Options:
Woodland Creation Option | Minimum wood or individual block size planted per year (hectares) | Composition | Minimum stocking density per hectare at year 5 or when considered to be 'established' |
|---|
Productive conifer woodland (low cost) | 5.0 | - up to 85% conifers but predominantly spruce - at least 5% broadleaves - up to 10% open ground | Spruce - 2500 Broadleaves - 1100 |
Productive conifer woodland (high cost) | 5.0 | - up to 85% other conifers, e.g. SP, DF, Larch - at least 5% broadleaves - up to 10% open ground | Pine - 3000 DF, Larch - 2000 Broadleaves - 1100 |
Productive broadleaved woodland | 2.0 | - at least 85% productive broadleaves, e.g. Oak, Be, Syc, Ash - up to 5% other broadleaves - up to 10% open ground | Oak, BE - 3100 Syc, Ash - 2500 Other BLF - 1100 |
Native woodland | 0.25 | - at least 75% species native to the locality and appropriate to the site - up to 25% open ground | 1600 |
Naturally regenerated native woodland | 0.25 | - at least 75% species native to the locality - up to 25% open ground | 1100 |
Mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland | 0.25 Maximum wood size = 10.0Ha. | - at least 80% mixed conifer and broadleaves, the latter being at least half of the planted area with no less than 25% conifer - up to 20% open ground | Conifer - 2500 Broadleaves - 1600 |
The boundary of each woodland type must be broken down by proposed planting year and accurately drawn on your Woodland Creation Map and submitted with the proposals.
Environmental Impact Assessments
If your proposals fall above certain minimum-size thresholds and are likely to have a significant effect on the environment, an application for consent under the Environment Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 may be required.
Consultation
We may consult/notify local authorities and other statutory organisations about your proposals. We will take their views into account before approving proposals. Also, all proposals containing new woodland creation areas exceeding 2.0 hectares will be placed on a 'Public Register' by the local FCS office. Please note that this 'Public Register' and 'Consultation' period is for 28 days, so please allow for this period of time, plus the associated administration time, between submitting and committing your proposal.
You should discuss woodland planting and felling proposals with those neighbours who might be directly affected. You should record any contact, and results of contact, with neighbours in your accompanying Outcome Plan.
We will not fund the delivery of woodland creation required as a specific condition in a planning consent. However, where the extent of the proposed woodland creation exceeds the requirement of the planning consent condition, the Case Officer will assess the proposal on its individual merits, taking particular account of 'Additionality' represented by woodland creation in the context of the Rural Priority specified.
Annual Recurrent Grants
You must have completed the woodland planting work by 15 May in order to claim the first year's associated annual recurrent payment for maintenance and/or Farmland Premium on the Single Application Form (SAF) in that year. If the woodland establishment is not completed by 15 May, the earliest you can submit your first claim for the associated annual recurrent Woodland Creation payment will be on the SAF in the following year.
Please see the guidance on claims for more information.
What should you mark on your map(s)
For advice on how to mark up your Woodland Creation Map please use the Woodland Creation Mapping guidance
For general mapping guidance and advice on standards and OS copyright please use the Mapping Guidance.
What costs will be supported?
We will make a single payment per hectare for initial tree planting as a contribution to the costs of ground preparation, tree planting and individual tree protection. The contribution will be based on 70% of the standard costs in Non Less Favoured Areas (NLFA) and 80% for woodland creation within Less Favoured Areas (LFA).
If you use genetically improved planting material, within the productive conifer (low cost) woodland creation option, we will make an additional single payment per hectare.
A separate single payment per metre will be provided for stock or deer fencing. This will be paid at the same time as the payment for the initial planting of the woodland. In the case of native woodland natural regeneration, the fencing will be paid after the fencing work has been completed and claimed as agreed in the contract.
Community Woodland Contribution will be paid at the same time as the payment for the initial planting of the woodland.
Community Woodland Contribution
Where at least 50% of the planting is located within 1km of the homes of 2000 or more people and meets specific additional design criteria, an additional Community Woodland Contribution
The additional design criteria will demonstrate how you will provide opportunities for public access and recreation in the design of the woodland. The proposals must specify how the woodland and access facilities are to be established and maintained over a period of at least 10 years. You must provide information on any planting design proposals that differ from the standard design criteria for the woodland creation options described above.
You should ensure that access proposals integrate with wider access work in the area, e.g. access strategies, greenspace strategies, core path plans, health walks, etc.
You must demonstrate evidence of community involvement or clearly explain the details of planned community engagement and your proposals should include details on the proposed monitoring of public access and feedback to the community interests.
Planting on agricultural land
Where planting is undertaken on agricultural land or abandoned agricultural land, support will be provided for tree maintenance following planting. This will be an annual payment per hectare for a period of 5 years after planting has been completed.
Agricultural land means land used for horticulture, fruit growing, arable cropping, seed growing, dairy farming, livestock breeding and keeping, the use of the land as grazing land, meadowland, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds or the use of woodland where that is ancillary to the use of the land for other agricultural activities. Letting land to another person to carry out agricultural activity, where the potential beneficiary retains some responsibility for the management of the land, for example letting land on a grazing licence or short term tenancy for grazing is also considered an agricultural activity. Keeping horses for recreational or sporting purposes and fish farming are not considered to be agricultural activities.
Abandoned agricultural land will be land fitting the above description but which has not been in agricultural use more recently than the previous 3 years.
An annual Farmland Premium per hectare, to cover the loss of agricultural income, for either 10 or 15 years (depending on the woodland creation option) will be available for planting on agricultural land that has been in agricultural use for the three years prior to the application for Farmland Premium. Woodlands which are to be felled before 15 years are not eligible for Farmland Premium. Woodlands in receipt of Farmland Premium payments for 10 and 15 years must not be removed within the 20 and 30 years, respectively, following the first annual payment. (Silvicultural thinning during the periods is allowed, as is felling associated with Short Rotation Forestry provided it is subsequently restocked by planting or coppice regeneration.) Farmland Premium is not payable on abandoned agricultural land.
The following types of land are ineligible for maintenance payments and Farmland Premium:
- Planting on non-agricultural land including land used to keep horses for recreational or sporting purposes.
- Planting in existing woodlands, including grazed woodland.
- Land used for Christmas tree growing is ineligible for any Woodland Creation support.
Rate of support
The current support rates for initial planting and maintenance are:
| Woodland Creation Option | Initial Planting Payment Rate £/ ha* 70% for NLFA | Initial Planting Payment Rate £/ ha 80% for LFA | Maintenance Payment Rate £/ ha/year** |
|---|
Productive conifer woodland (low cost) | 1206.80 | 1379.20 | 161 |
Productive conifer woodland (high cost) | 1444.80 | 1651.20 | 186 |
Productive broadleaved woodland | 2321.90 | 2653.60 | 229 |
Native woodland | 1961.40 | 2241.60 | 218 |
Naturally regenerated native woodland | 633.50*** | 724.00*** | 101 |
Mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland **** | 2144.10 | 2450.40 | 222 |
Previous rates approved and paid under RDC- RP and the timing of when they applied can be found on the FCS webpage 'Archive Grant Rates'
* Paid as a lump sum on completion of planting
** Paid as an annual payment for a period of 5 years. Trees must be satisfactorily 'established' within 10 years of planting. Only payable where planting has occurred on agricultural land or abandoned agricultural land (i.e. at least 50% of a woodland type must be on agricultural land and/or abandoned agricultural land to be eligible for the annual maintenance payments).
***Paid when natural regeneration meets the minimum stocking and height requirements as set out in http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-7rlm3l
**** Support for 'mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland' option is only available to new woods up to a maximum size limit of 10 hectares.
The term 'established' means that trees must be present to the minimum stocking densities specified, healthy, and in a condition capable of continued growth given no further weeding but subject to normal ongoing maintenance operations such as protection from inappropriate grazing by wild or domestic animals.
Genetically Improved Planting Material
The categories and payment rates for using genetically improved planting material are:
Categories of genetically improved planting material | £ per hectare |
|---|
Sitka spruce plants produced without vegetative propagation from open pollinated seed from seed orchards in the tested category. | 50 |
Sitka spruce plants produced by vegetative propagation from seeds derived from controlled pollinations in 'Parents of Families' in the tested category. | 150 |
Fencing Rates
The standard cost rates for fencing are listed below. Depending upon whether you are within a LFA or NLFA, you will get 80% or 70% contribution to the standard costs listed below.You can view the specification which describes the minimum standard of work required by clicking on the relevant capital item. You must carry out work to at least that minimum standard and comply with any relevant British Standard. You must maintain completed works in an appropriate functional state for at least the term of your contract. Any timber used must come from a sustainably managed forest:
* Payment calculation will be based on the rate shown
Community Woodland Contribution
The additional Community Woodland Contribution is: £1500/ ha
The fencing, genetically improved planting material and community woodland contribution will be paid at the same time as the initial planting.
Where you propose to renew or restore a fence that forms the boundary between your land and that of your neighbour, the payment will be in proportion to your level of responsibility; that is, if you and your neighbour are equally responsible for maintaining a fence, you will be entitled to payment on half the length of fence. You may still claim full payment for any associated items such as gates, marking to reduce bird collision or rabbit netting.
Farmland Premium
The annual Farmland Premium payment rates, available to farmers, are:
Type of Land | £ per hectare per year |
|---|
Arable and Improved on Non LFA | 300 |
Arable and Improved on disadvantaged areas of the LFA | 230 |
Arable and Improved on severely disadvantaged areas of LFA | 160 |
Unimproved Land | 60 |
A farmer is defined as a person who, in respect of all the IACS registered land which they farm in Scotland, derives at least 25% of their income from agricultural activities and devotes an essential part of their working time to agricultural activities.
Arable land is eligible land which was in an arable crop (or under set aside or lying fallow as part of a normal crop rotation) in one or more years during the 5 years prior to 15 May in the year of submission of the application for aid.
Improved land is eligible land (other than arable land) used for grazing where over one-third of the sward comprises, singly or in mixture, ryegrass, cocksfoot or timothy, or land that has been improved by management practices such as liming and top dressing where there is not a significant presence of sensitive plant species indicative of native unimproved grassland.
Unimproved land is eligible land that does not meet either of the definitions above, i.e. comprising both rough grazings (land containing semi-natural vegetation including heathland, heather moorland, bog and rough grassland used or suitable for use as grazing) and in-bye land used for grazing or mowing that is not normally treated with mineral fertiliser or lime and does not constitute improved grassland.
The minimum area for Farmland Premium is 1 hectare.
The duration of the above annual payments will vary depending on the woodland options. Payments will be made for 10 years for the two productive conifer woodland options. All other woodland options will receive payments for 15 years.
Inspections and verification
Initial planting will be subject to inspection once we receive your claim for payment. We will inspect the work to ensure that the planting accords with the approved contract. If you claim for fencing, we will inspect it against the specifications. If you claim for using genetically improved planting material, we will verify this against the planting material records.
The planted area will also be subject to inspection once we receive your claim for maintenance or up to 10 years after the planting. We will inspect the area to ensure the trees have been adequately maintained and are 'established'.
The maintenance of planted areas on non-agricultural land may also be inspected after 5 years to verify that the trees are satisfactorily 'established'.
If you claim annual Farmland Premium payments, we will inspect these areas to ensure that they are not being used for agricultural activities.
List of links to relevant technical guidance
The UK Forestry Standard - www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcfc001.pdf/$FILE/fcfc001.pdf
The Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-5ZGKWL
Support for Naturally Regenerated Native Woodland http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-7rlm3l
Support for Juniper Conservation http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-7rlm3l
Support for Short Rotation Forestry http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-7rlm3l
Forestry Commission Bulletin 112, 'Creating New Native Woodlands' (ISBN 0 11 710320 9) This is available to order from Forestry Commission Publications.