Woodland Assessment Grant
Purpose
The Forestry Commission may consider that further information is required before decisions can be made about work in a woodland. Woodland Assessment Grant (WAG) contributes to the standard costs of undertaking these specified assessments.
Aims
The objective is to improve the sustainable management of woodland by ensuring that management decisions are based on good knowledge of the sensitivities and needs of the woodland and the opportunities to derive benefits for the public.
Eligibility
You will normally be invited to apply for this grant but we will consider uninvited applications on their merits where funding permits. We will generally offer this grant where we think that more specific information is required about known sensitivities in the woodland when we have
- approved an application for a Woodland Planning Grant (WPG); or
- are considering an application for a felling licence or other grant
An offer of grant will depend on the:
- Availability of the required information from other sources.
- Degree to which management decisions will rely on the required information.
- Sensitivity of the site and any special designations such as SSSI’s or similar European designations, Ancient Woodland Sites or known Biodiversity Action Plan priority species and habitats.
- Visibility of the site, its proximity to dwellings and the level of usage by the public.
- Intensity, scale and significance of the proposed management and methods to be employed in activities such as harvesting and regeneration, in relation to the woodland size and sensitivities.
Situations not eligible for WAG
- If we do not need the information to ensure that we can satisfactorily discharge our statutory duties or to deliver grants.
- Non-woodland site.
- Where the information is required to comply with any legislation, regulation or other grants scheme not administered by Defra or the Forestry Commission.
Eligible Assessments
ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
In ecologically sensitive woodland (e.g. ancient or semi-natural woodland) where operations are proposed that are likely to have a significant impact.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN PLAN
In sensitive/prominent landscapes, where the planned scale or type of operations could potentially have significant visual impact.
HISTORIC AND CULTURAL ASSESSMENT
Where there is evidence on the site of an interest that the proposals will affect, or where local partnerships have identified a value in further assessment, prior to operations taking place in the woodland.
DETERMINING STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS
Where a stakeholder or community meeting needs to be held to explore likely interest or where such interest has been expressed and needs to be discussed.
Grant rates
| Assessment type | Grant rate | Minimum payment |
|---|---|---|
| Ecological Assessment | £5.60 / ha | £300 |
| Landscape Design Plan | £2.80 / ha | £300 |
| Historic and Cultural Assessment | £5.60 / ha | £300 |
| Determining Stakeholder Interests | £300 per assessment | £300 |
Rates are the same for all regions in England
Documentation
| Guidance | Forms required for WAG |
|---|---|
| EWGS1 General Guide (PDF 155kb) | EWGS1 General Details Form (PDF 72kb) |
| EWGS3 WAG Guide (PDF 86kb) | EWGS3 WAG Application Form (PDF 57kb) |
EWGS8 Claim Form (PDF 59kb) EWGS9 Amendment Form (PDF 56kb) |
