New Funding Opportunities for Woodlands
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) provides funding opportunities for the rural sector, including woodland owners and woodland related businesses. The aim of the Programme is to improve woodland management through increasing financial returns from forestry management and adding value to woodland products. To assist with this RDPE offers grants on capital investment (up to 50%) and training (up to 70%).
What are grants available for?
How can I access this funding?
What do I need to apply for funding?
For further information please read our helpful leaflet:
Funding for Forestry in South East England - Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) (Pdf 1Mb)
Grants are available for
- Purchase of capital equipment – by woodland owners and woodland businesses to provide enhanced management of woodland. For example, in-forest harvesting and extraction machinery or ride-management machinery.
- Adding value to forestry products - by woodland businesses. For example, mobile
sawmills for planking, de-barkers, post peelers and pointers, firewood processors. - Development and expansion - of rural businesses including capital and marketing costs.
- Diversification – into green tourism, leisure and recreation or establishment of new activities such as retail of woodland products. Grant aid for feasibility studies, technical support and product development can also be considered.
- Training - funding is available for training in woodland management skills, business management and Health & Safety related courses.e.g. NPTC chain saw felling courses.
How can I access this funding?
The RDPE funding for the forestry sector is being administered by South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), on behalf of Defra, in close co-operation with the Forestry Commission.
Which grant scheme is best for me?
If your planned project has a total expenditure of less than £100,000 (or a grant request of up to £50,000) and your business address is in an RDPE LEADER area, please contact your LEADER Local Action Group (LAG) for funding. You can find your local LEADER area and contacts at Funding through Leader.
If your planned project has a total expenditure of more than £100,000 (or a grant request of over £50,000) please contact SEEDA directly.
What do I need to do to apply for funding?
Firstly you will need to complete a short Expression of Interest form (available from your local LEADER group or SEEDA). You will get feedback as to the eligibility of your project idea and, if eligible, you will be asked to submit an application and supporting information.
A list of machinery distributors and machinery manufacturers is available to help you compare equipment and obtain quotes.
A Business Plan - may be requested from you when you submit an RDPE application. Completing a business plan can be a useful way of checking that your project makes financial sense for your business. Business Link is a government funded organisation that have developed a format for a business plan (pdf:48kb) – to complete the information on your computer please download the MS Word Business Plan template (104kb)– if you do not use MS word, please download this Business Link Business Plan template (pdf:51kb)
If you need to work out whether your project is eligible and which RDPE priority your project delivers, work through this flowchart.
You may be asked to show how your project helps to deliver regional policy - this document lists the forestry policy priorities (pdf: 39kb) for the region.
Contact:
Jane Hull - Forestry Commission
jane.hull@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Tel. 01420 23337
Or
Jonathan King at SEEDA
JonathanKing@seeda.co.uk
Tel. 07789 171621
