The Scottish Government

What is this about

Support is available for operations that will improve existing woodlands. Especially for habitats and species that are a priority in a UK Biodiversity Action Plan and for environmental improvements through restructuring.

What will this achieve

Operations will improve the ecological and environmental value of woodlands and deliver one or more of the following outcomes:

• long-term forest planning
• reducing deer impact in woodlands
• improving woodlands, through work related to designated sites and habitats and species that are priorities under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and UKBAP
• improving even-aged woodland for biodiversity, scenic value and enhancing the ecological stability in the long term by restructuring their age and species composition
• improving or restoring associated non-woodland habitats within woodlands, through work related to designated sites and habitats and species that are priorities under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and UKBAP

What you can do

You can carry out work from the approved list of forest operations relevant to the specific outcome.

Who can apply

Private owners or occupiers of existing woodlands.

Eligibility criteria

Your proposals must meet the specific eligibility criteria (see below) and clearly show that they will deliver ecological and environmental improvements. You can support these with a Forest Plan or other management plan.

Your proposed operations must be additional to any operations already receiving support through annual forest management payments.

All work must comply with the requirements of the UK Forestry Standard and the specifications for each operation.

Long-term forest planning

• You must provide a Forest Plan that covers a 10-20 year period and shows that the management of the woodlands meets the standards set out in the UK Forestry Standard
• You must submit a 'concept map' to illustrate the key issues and actions being addressed by the preparation of a Forest Plan
• You must carry out a scoping exercise and include the Scoping Report as part of the Forest Plan you submit for approval
• Your Forest plan must include work proposals that will initiate its implementation within 3 years of the approval date.

Technical guidance on long term forest planning

Reducing deer impact

• Operations must be set out in a deer management plan (DMP) that has been agreed by Forestry Commission Scotland and - where appropriate - the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS).
• Operations must comply with DCS Best Practice Guidance.
• If you intend to fence areas, you must assess the risks (including the impacts on wildlife and access) and where required mitigate these in line with best practice guidance. Please note that compensatory deer culling may be necessary. You should not obstruct or hinder public access. Your proposals must show the timing of any fence removal. If you intend to protect the trees only by deer culling then the DMP must show that this is achievable and sustainable.
• Areas in receipt of grant aid for deer control under the following are ineligible:
• Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme
• Sustainable Management of Forests - Areas of native woodland
• Sustainable Management of Forests - Areas of LISS

Technical guidance on reducing deer impact

Improving woodland habitats and species

• A management plan must set out the aims and the rationale for proposed operations. For an SSSI the proposals must accord with objectives set out in the site management statement.
• You must in the case of a management plan for native woodland, provide a brief summary describing the condition of the woodland, and describing the proposed 'direction of travel' for the following key attributes:
• Stand structure
• Regeneration
• Herbivore impact
• Species composition
• Threats and risks
• You need to show that the proposals will benefit specific habitats or species that are a priority under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Restructuring regeneration

• You must set out the aims and the rationale for the proposed regeneration. Ideally, this should be part of a Forest Plan.
• You must restructure the age and/or species composition of the woodland.
• Restructuring with 'diverse conifers' only provides support for conifer species other than Sitka spruce. The latter will only be eligible if the plants have been produced by vegetative propagation from seeds derived from controlled pollinations in 'Parents of Families' in the tested category.
• The required minimum restocking densities for restructuring regeneration are as follows:

Technical Guidance for restructuring regeneration

Improving non-woodland habitats

• A management plan must set out your aims and the rationale for the proposed operations. This will need to show how the proposals will benefit priority habitats under the UKBAP.
• You can create up to 20% of the woodland area as non-woodland and associated open ground habitat
• This habitat needs to be integral to the woodland, that is, either surrounded by woodland or comprising the tree-line/moorland fringe.
• Proposals for woodland clearance must have an approved Felling Licence that does not require restocking as a condition of that approval.

What should you mark up on you map(s)

For advice on how to mark up your Woodland Improvement Grant maps please refer to the Mapping Guidance.

What costs will be supported

A variety of woodland operations will be supported.

In the table below, you can view the specification which describes the minimum standard of work required by clicking on the relevant operation. 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.

The grant payment rates for operations are as follows:

When completing your Proposal, you can select the appropriate capital item(s) from the dropdown list of standard cost capital items for this Option.

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.

In addition to the above Standard cost capital items, financial support of up to 100% of eligible actual costs is available in respect of the following:

• Capital works required for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Natura features

Please note that where capital works are for SSSI/Natura sites, you should not select capital items from the 'Standard Cost' list of capital items. Instead, you should enter the capital items manually into the 'Actual Cost' capital item table along with the actual cost of the capital item. Only costs for the types of capital works for SSSI/Natura sites should be entered in the 'Actual Cost' capital items table. Any entered costs for non-SSSI/Natura sites cannot be considered for funding.

For the Woodland Improvement Grant options, Actual Costs must only be submitted for operations and/or items that enhance the list of standard cost capital items eligible for that chosen WIG option.

When Actual Costs are proposed, you should supply all the supporting information / quotes required as detailed in 'Quotes & estimates'

Inspections and verification

We will inspect the completed work to ensure that this meets the agreed management plan and the specification of agreed operations.

List of links to relevant technical guidance

The UK Forestry Standard http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcfc001.pdf/$FILE/fcfc001.pdf

Deer Commission for Scotland Best Practice Guidance http://www.dcs.gov.uk/

FCS Guidance 'Deer and Fencing'

FCS Guidance 'Management Plans for Semi-Natural Woodlands'

FCS Guidance 'Deer Impact Reduction' http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7rlmau

FCS Guidance 'Long Term Forest Planning' http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7rlmau

FC Forest Practice Guide ' Restoration of Native Woodland on Ancient Woodland Sites'

FC Forest Practice Guides to the Management of Semi- Natural Woodlands

Species Action Notes for Capercaillie, Black Grouse and Red Squirrel http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7fwezl

Habitat management for Black Grouse http://www.blackgrouse.info/about/ecology.htm

Habitat management for Capercaillie http://www.capercaillie-life.info/index.php