Frequently Asked Questions

 

If your question isn’t listed here and you can’t find the answer elsewhere on the website please contact your nearest Regional office (PDF 109kb) or the EWGS Advice Line on 01223 346004.

**Most Frequently Asked Questions**

Q. How do I obtain information on the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS)?
A. All the Guides and Forms are available either via the EWGS homepage (by choosing the appropriate grant), or in the Document Library if you already know what you need.  If you cannot download and print them please contact your Regional office (PDF 109kb) or the EWGS Advice Line on 01223 346004 and ask for an Applicant’s pack to be posted to you.

Q. How do I obtain a map?
A. You can obtain a map from your local Regional office (PDF 109kb) by downloading, printing and completing the Map Request Form (PDF 33kb).  Once you have received your map, complete it and the relevant application forms and then send them all to your local Conservancy office.  An EWGS application must include a completed map with the application forms.  Further information and the request form can be found on our Map Request page (accessed from the Land Information Search).

Q. Do I have to use the maps you can supply?
A. No. Applicants may use an OS MasterMap® from a source other than the FC provided that it conforms to the conventions outlined in Section 4 of EWGS1 General Guide (PDF 150kb).  Subject to meeting these conventions other sources of acceptable maps may include those purchased from a retailer, provided from the Rural Land Register as part of a Defra scheme or produced on a Geographic Information System (GIS). We are working with a group of applicants to develop means of accepting digital data direct from applicants’ own GIS, but cannot do this yet.

Q. Can I complete my application online?
A.  No. For now, applications must continue to be completed manually although we are piloting an online service with selected users to be made available as soon as possible.  In the meantime all the Guides and Forms are published on the grant pages, accessed via the EWGS homepage.  After printing and completing, please post them together with your application map to your local Regional office (PDF 109kb). 

Q. Will my woodland need to be certified to receive Woodland Management Grant (WMG)?
A. Woodland properties over 30ha will need to be certified to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard. Properties under 30 hectares must either be certified under UKWAS, have a management plan or have the WMG Woodland Condition Statement and the associated Opportunity & Threat Assessment satisfactorily completed. Your woodland does not need to be certified in order to apply for any of the other grant types i.e. Woodland Planning, Assessment, Regeneration, Improvement or Creation Grant.

Q. I am a farmer wanting to plant trees on my land or manage my existing woodland, can you explain whether I am better applying for EWGS or through Defra’s Environmental Stewardship?
A. We have published a document, Funding for Farm Woodlands in England (PDF 117kb), that explains the interactions between the two schemes.  In some cases you can apply for both e.g. Entry Level Stewardship and Woodland Management Grant. For more information contact your Woodland Officer at your nearest Regional office (PDF 109kb) or an advisor from the Rural Development Service.

Q.   I would like to plant some trees, are there grants available?
A.   Yes.   The Woodland Creation Grant (WCG) has now reopened for applications for payment year 2008/2009.  If you are a farmer you may be eligible to apply for a total of up to 3ha of tree planting under Defra’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme.

Q.   I think I might need to change my planting/claim year - is this possible?
A.   The Grant Scheme Rescheduling Policy (PDF 35kb) gives guidance on whether this may be possible.

Q.   I want to apply for a grant but I will need someone to do the work, will somebody come and help me?
A.   If you contact your local Regional office (PDF 109kb) they will be able to send you a list of Consultants and Agents who can help you with the application and the work. FC staff will come out and advise once an application is submitted but are usually unable to offer pre-application advisory visits.

Q.   I have a question about felling licences.
A.   See the Felling Licence Frequently Asked Questions  (PDF 27kb)