Published July 2011
New Forestry Outcome Plan
A new Forestry Outcome Plan is now available to use when making forestry only applications (i.e. containing only forestry options under Sustainable Management of Forests, the Woodland Improvement Grant, or Woodland Creation). This new Outcome Plan allows you to provide more specific information about your forestry operations than the conventional Environmental Outcome Plan. It also gives essential information to Case Officers
If you make an application that contains a mixture of forestry and non-forestry options, then you must complete both the normal Environmental Outcome Plan as well as the section of the Forestry Outcome Plan relevant to your proposal (e.g. Sustainable Management of Forests, Woodland Creation etc).
Also included in the Forestry Outcome Plan is a Section that asks for details that will help Case Officers assess your Legal & Financial Eligibility.
You can download a PDF or Word version from the Scottish Government site by choosing from the menu on the How to Apply page.
New Structure to the Scottish Government Rural Priorities website pages on Forestry Options
The current web pages for the three main forestry options, Woodland Creation, Sustainable Management of Forests and Woodland Improvement Grant have been relaunched in conjunction with corresponding changes to the FCS website. The new structure aims to:
- reduce the amount of information presented on individual pages,
- make better use of web page links,
- introduce a better overall structure to these web pages,
- display the information about each option in a predictable way.
Although there will be more web pages, information about Options is presented more logically and will help you to better understand what the aims of the Option are and what is required if you wish to apply for grant aid.
New “Technical Guidance” pages on FCS website
“Technical Guidance” pages have been created for each of the three RDC-RP forestry options, Woodland Creation, Sustainable Management of Forests and Woodland Improvement Grant. These list all of the FCS and related documents that might be of help to you if you are considering making an application. You will find them listed on the Forestry Grants page
New Forest Plans booklet
A brand new version of the Forest Plans booklet (PDF 1.3Mb) has recently been published by Forestry Commission Scotland. The booklet has been completely redesigned to give improved guidance and a more easily read layout. Grants to help prepare your Forest Plan are available under Woodland Improvement Grant, one of the forestry options under Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities.
From April 2012, you must have an approved Forest Plan to apply for grant aid to cover restructuring felling or restructuring regeneration. There are currently transitional arrangements in place.
You can get a copy of the booklet on the Woodland Improvement Grant Technical Guidance page.
Published 4th April 2011
Contents:
- Changes to the Ongoing Approval process
- Claims awareness Seminars – you can download a copy of the PowerPoint presentation used at the Seminars. Please view the 'Notes' pages
- Relationship of Forest Plans to felling and restructuring grants
You can view the PowerPoint presentation slides and notes. More details on the Briefing Notes page
Published 3 March 2011
Multiple agent access to Rural Payments online and to complete the Single Application Form (SAF).
Published 2 January 2011
Introduction of new challenges modification for certain woodland creation proposals
Higher grants rates have been introduced for woodland creation capital items in Argyll Islands Woodland Partnership Area, Central Scotland Green Network Area and in the Northern and Western Isles. The higher rates will also apply elsewhere but only if you use any of the three productive planting options
Published 1 December 2010
Update and reminder for Rural priorities
- Actual Costs available through Woodland Improvement Grant
- Rhododendron activity within Ongoing Approvals
- Contract Approvals prior to 31st December
- Variations for Annual Recurrent grants in Woodland Creation cases
Published 22nd October 2010
Revised Guidance for handling restructuring felling and regeneration proposals
This Guidance has been updated to Version 1.7. This version gives details about the new 100ha threshold for Forest Plan requirement and the introduction of the Management Plan template for use with areas less than 100ha. Details of Forest Plan transition arrangements between 4th April 2011 and 4th April 2012 are also given. You can download the revised guidance or find it on the Woodland Improvement Grant page under restructuring regeneration.
Published 24th August 2010
Controlled Livestock Grazing of Woodland
The controlled grazing guidance note (PDF 77k) has been updated with the addition of an Appendix listing some commonly asked questions and their answers.
The Woodland Grazing Toolbox can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/woodlandgrazingtoolbox
Published 12th May 2010
New grant support to boost woodland grazing
A new grant called ‘Controlled Livestock Grazing of Woodland’ is being introduced through the SRDP Rural Priorities in late May/early June. It aims to encourage more management of semi-natural native woodlands in Scotland through sensitive livestock grazing and is a joint initiative between Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.
The controlled grazing guidance note (PDF 77k) gives more information and the Woodland Grazing Toolbox can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/woodlandgrazingtoolbox
Published 2nd March 2010
Scottish Rural Development Plan (SRDP) 2014-2020 Regional Meetings
The Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor) are holding three Regional Meetings at the end of March / early April to discuss the forestry grant structure for the next SRDP. See the SRDP Regional Meetings page for details.
Published 12th February 2010
Funding limit relaxed to speed up tree planting
The Scottish Government has announced an initiative which should help speed up new woodland planting being funded through the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).
At present, a financial limit only allows for applications up to around 50 hectares to be considered on a 'fast track' basis. To increase the impetus for creating new woodlands, the raised financial threshold of £750,000 per case will be introduced, allowing bigger schemes to pass through the on-going application process.
The increase in funding limit applies to proposals for new woodlands within Rural Priorities. Proposals for the management of existing woodlands will continue to benefit from the ongoing approval up to a maximum case value of £250K. The new limit comes into effect on an immediate basis.
For more information on SRDP and Rural priorities, please go to Forestry Grants page.
Published 4th February 2010
Updated Q&A Guidance for Forestry Challenge Funds.
This update clarifies the position with regards to Value Added Tax and how it applies to the FCS Challenge Funds. In addition, amendments to the monitoring and evaluation questions have been made. The updated documents are 'how to apply/general guidance' and the scoring sheet and guidance, all under 'Applying for funding' on the Challenge Funds page.
Published 22nd December 2009
Revised Guidance for handling restructuring felling and regeneration proposals
This Guidance has been made current and also revised to include reference to ongoing approvals and by pass of SOI. You can download the revised guidance (PDF 33k) .
Published: 27th November 2009
Revised WGS and SFGS claim forms (November 2009)
These forms have been updated to reflect the use of "Land Parcel Identifiers (LPID)" instead of FID numbers. We have also provided room to give the Sub Location Code(s) if the area in the claim is not covered by the Main Location Code.
Published: November 2009
Following approval of the Statutory Instrument on 7th November, some changes have been made to the grant rates for Woodland Creation, Community Woodland Supplement, the Capital Items 'Deer Fence' and 'Re-spacing natural regeneration' and also the minimum forest holding required for 'Improving the Economic Value of Forests' option.
Guidance for these options is being updated on the Scottish Government website. See: Scottish Government – List of Options
The main changes are:
Woodland Creation – updated list of revised grant rates available. New rates will apply to all claims received after 7th November.
Woodland Creation – 'Mixed conifer/broadleaf' option – 10 hectare maximum threshold for all cases submitted on or after 7th November.
Community Woodland Contribution – increased to £1500 per hectare.
Capital item 'Deer Fence' associated with Woodland Creation options - now based on increased standard cost of £7.25 per metre, payable at 80% in LFA and 70% in non-LFA.
Capital item 'Deer Fence' associated with Woodland Improvement Grant options of 'Improving Woodland Habitats and species' - now based on increased standard cost of £7.25 per metre.
Capital item 'Re-spacing natural regeneration' associated with Woodland Improvement Grant option 'Improving Woodland Habitats and Species' – now based on increased standard cost (100%) rate of £600 per hectare.
Capital item 'Re-spacing natural regeneration' associated with Improving Economic Value of Forests option – now based on increased standard cost (100%) rate of £600 per hectare. We will accept claims based on invoices up to 50% of these increased ceiling costs.
Improving Economic Value of Forests Option – minimum area of forest holding required has been reduced from 30 hectares to 1 hectare.
Agri-Environment Standard Cost Capital Items – guidance associated with Standard Cost Capital Items updated – Capital Item "Deer fence" associated with agri-environment options now based on increased standard cost (100%) rate of £7.25 per metre.
Published: 9 October 2009
Revised intervention rate for Less Favoured Areas
A new intervention rate of 80% for Less Favoured Areas (LFA’s) has been introduced for each of the six planting options within the Woodland Creation Option. Applicants within LFA’s will now be entitled to apply for 80% funding for Standard Cost items. Funding in the Non Less Favoured Areas will be based on 70% of Standard Cost items.
Published: 18th September 09
Suitable seed sources for planting native trees and shrubs
At present the supply of Caledonian Scots pine plants is temporarily reduced in relation to likely demand. Forestry Commission Scotland will therefore accept a temporary change for the next 12 months to the indigenous Scots pine seed zones rules for planting of native Scots pine.
Published: 14th August 09
Ongoing approval for forestry schemes
Certain types of Rural Development Contract–Rural Priorities applications for forestry activities can now be approved by Forestry Commission Scotland Conservators without the need to be submitted to the Regional Proposal Assessment Committees (RPACs).
If your entire proposal is limited to Regional Priorities 14, 21 and 23 and Forestry specific Options 45, 46 and 47, Woodland Creation, Sustainable Management of Forests and Woodland Improvement Grant, then the application can be approved by FCS Conservator without submission to the RPAC.
These applications must meet certain eligibility criteria to qualify for this ongoing approval process. Details of the eligibility criteria can be found via the Forestry Grants page.
Published: 6th August 09
Support for Red Squirrels
The following note describes how to use the range of SRDP options available to support the conservation of red squirrels.
- Download: Red Squirrel Technical Guidance (PDF 48k).
These documents are also available on the technical guidance pages within the Forestry Grants section.
Other articles
Published: 16th July 09
Update to guidance on Environmental Impact Assessment
The general guidance Environmental Impact of Forestry Projects and the more technical guidance Undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment and Preparing an Environmental Statement have both been updated.
- Download: Environmental Impact of Forestry Projects (PDF 865k)
- Download: Undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment and Preparing an Environmental Statement (PDF 1.3Mb)
These documents are also available from the Environmental Impact Assessment section.
Published: 11th June 09
Update to guidance on challenge fund applications
The 'how to apply and general guidance' document for challenge funds has been updated:
This document is also available on the challenge funds page.
Published: 10th June 09
Support for Pearl-bordered fritillary and chequered skipper butterflies
SRDP grant support for pearl-bordered fritillary and chequered skipper is targeted to areas where the work can help enhance meta-populations of these species. The following technical notes describes how to use the range of options available to help conserve these species, focussing on woodlands and adjacent areas.
- Download pearl-bordered fritillary technical guidance (PDF 58k)
- Download chequered skipper technical guidance (PDF 53k)
These documents are also available in the technical help pages within the Forestry Grants section.
Woodland Creation – Short Rotation Forestry
Technical Guidance for the establishment of Short Rotation Forestry now available:
Woods in and Around Towns and Forestry for People Challenge Funds
SRDP Forestry Challenge Funds Capital Items Claim form and Guidance Notes available:
- Download: Forestry Challenge Funds Capital Items Claim form (PDF 120k)
- Download: Guidance Notes for the Forestry Challenge Fund claim form (PDF 54k)
- These documents are also available in the Forestry Challenge Funds section.
Woodland grant activity statistics
Forestry Commission Scotland compiles statistical information on woodland grant activity in Scotland. The figures are provided as a complement to Scottish Government figures for Rural Priorities.
We aim to publish this about three times per year. Figures are now available for the year 08/09.
Go to woodland grant activity statistics.
Legacy scheme grant payments
New advice to help you get your claim through the Business Reference Number and FID validation process and on to cross-checking You can see a checklist that highlights the most commonly found errors.
- Download Claiming legacy grants (PDF 25k)
- See also - Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Woodland Grants Scheme.
Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities: Revised Woodland Creation rates
The document below allows you broadly to compare the current rates with the rates that we are seeking to introduce, and the proposed timetable. Please note that we cannot guarantee the timetable for introduction of the new rates.
- Download the tables of proposed rates (PDF 24k)
Woodland Creation – natural regeneration
Change in stocking density and height of regeneration required to meet the requirements for grant. Advice about treatment of failures and possible reclaims.
Technical note now available:
Support for juniper conservation
Technical note now available:
Creating and restoring open habitats from woodland
Technical note now available
Download Open habitat restoration guidance (PDF 63k).
