Grants and licences in Scotland

 

This section of the website gives details of grants available under Rural Development Contracts, delivered jointly by Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Forestry Commission Scotland. 

Information is also available about closed legacy grant schemes, felling licences and other regulations that are managed and administered by Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS).

Grants

Rural Development Contracts (RDC)

Rural Development Contracts have been introduced throughout Scotland as part of the new Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) for 2007-2013.  This page outlines the forestry-related grants available.

Changes to the way that we make Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) and Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) payments

Currently all WGS and SFGS payments part-funded by the European Commission (EC) are made by the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) and only through Bankers Automated Clearing System (BACS).

From 16 October 2008, all WGS and SFGS payments will be made by SGRPID and only to those businesses which are registered under the Integrated Administration Control System (IACS).  

Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme (SFGS) - now closed

The SFGS section gives details of:

• making grant claims or amendments to an existing SFGS contract
• full details of the grants approved and paid under the SFGS
• an archive of SFGS documents
• making complaints and/or appealing decisions.

Go to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme pages.

Woodland Grant Scheme and Forest Plans

View information on grant claims and contract amendments for Woodland Grant Scheme and Forest Plan contracts.

Felling Licences

FCS controls tree felling in Scotland.  If you wish to fell trees, you might need to get permission from us in the form of a licence before you can do so.  The felling licences pages explain how to get a licence, what exemptions there are, as well as how to make a complaint or appeal a decision.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 

Some forestry projects must meet agreed environmental standards.  If our opinion is that a project will have a significant impact on the environment, you must get our consent for the work before you start it.  The Environmental Impact Assessment section details the types of project to which the EIA applies and what the process for getting our consent is.

Public Registers

FCS maintains two public registers.  One shows details of grant applications for carrying out new planting and felling;  the other shows the decisions FCS makes about what impact on the evironment proposed forestry work might have.

Land information search (LIS)

Use the Land Information Search to help you find out information about the land and features in a chosen area, such as Special Protection Areas.  You must take account of the information that the search provides when applying for a grant or felling licence.

Other information

Forestry Standards

Forestry practice must adhere to the UK Forestry Standard (PDF 974k).  Additional information is in the UK Woodland Assurance Standard Guide to Certification (PDF 1.3Mb).

The Scottish Forestry Strategy

The planting and management of Scottish forests and woodlands is guided by the Scottish Forestry Strategy.

Contact us

Contact details for Forestry Commission offices are provided in the contact us section, which you can access from the link at the top of each page.