1 SEPTEMBER 2008 NEWS RELEASE No: 10880

People in West Cumbria and other parts of North West England have until the 30th of September 2008 to apply for thousands of pounds worth of grants to help make the region even greener, thanks to the Forestry Commission’s English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS).

Woodland cover across the region currently stands at just 6.5 per cent compared with the national average of 8 per cent and a European average of 33 per cent. This means that the North West is one of the least wooded areas in England and the proportion of native ancient woodland is even less.

In the last ten years grants worth more than £10 million have been given out by the Forestry Commission, leading to the creation of over 5,000 hectares of new woodlands in North West England.

Peter Fox, Woodland Officer for the Forestry Commission in West Cumbria, says:

"The new areas of woodland that have been created in Cumbria and other parts of the region over the last decade have brought substantial benefits. However, more needs to be done to meet challenges such as climate change - and we are working regionally and nationally to ensure our woodlands are working for us to meet those challenges, reducing the impacts and helping us and the wildlife around adapt to the changing climate.

"Larger landowners and farmers are important recipients of our grants, but small woodlands still provide many benefits and can make a real difference to the environment. We need to plan for a greener and more sustainable future so there’s never been a better time to create new woodland."

Individuals can make an important contribution to tackling climate change by planting woodlands which absorb carbon as they grow. Trees can also provide a renewable energy source in the form of wood fuel and create new habitats for wildlife.

One of last year’s successful applicants was Keith Fisher, from Higham Hall Estate, near Bassenthwaite in West Cumbria. He was awarded a grant to plant new woodland on 10.86 hectares of his land.

Mr Fisher, says:

“Like many people locally, I have been most concerned about the state of Bassenthwaite Lake, so it is good to have done something to try and help via the Woodland Creation Grant scheme.

“I’ve been very happy with the support and cooperation that I and my Land Agents, Edwin Thompson, have received from the Forestry Commission. The actual tree planting went smoothly despite foul weather, with minimal disturbance to surrounding fields.

“The parcel of land in question is of limited agricultural value and the grant made all the difference to the financing of this initiative. Of course the Carbon payment was very helpful too.”

Around 9,500 trees were planted by a local contractor, who followed a varied spacing pattern to help give a natural appearance to the landscape. Species of trees planted on the site included Sessile Oak, Rowan, Downy Birch, Ash and other Woody Shrubs, which are now on full public view from the main A66 road running through the valley.

A proportion of the grant was allocated to opening up sections of the land to help maintain the views from the existing public footpath that runs through the site.

Land Agents, Edwin Thompson, also managed to secure carbon absorption and reduction funding from a private firm to help with the cost of creating the new woodland. Forest ecosystems make an important contribution to the global carbon budget, because of their ability to hold carbon in wood and soil.

Woodland Creation Grants can also have an important part to play in solving soil erosion and sedimentation problems in sensitive water catchment areas such as the Lake District’s Bassenthwaite Lake.

The English Woodland Grant Scheme aims to provide landowners with funding and support for providing public benefits, including the improvement of public access and biodiversity.

Projects the Forestry Commission are looking to support include high-quality tree planting schemes or the stewardship of existing woodland that benefit the environment or provide new places for people to enjoy healthy exercise. Environmental benefits have included improvements to wildlife habitats and the restoration of derelict land.

As well as new woodland, it is possible to receive grants to improve the condition of existing woods. Farmers may also be eligible for Farm Woodland Payments, which compensate for the loss of agricultural income from land planted with trees.

Applications under the English Woodland Grant Scheme are assessed on a competitive basis using a scoring system.

The closing date of Woodland Creation Grants (WCG) is Tuesday the 30th of September 2008. For all other grants the closing date is 28th February 2009, although they may close early if they are fully subscribed.

The Forestry Commission operates the EWGS under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). EWGS is part of the Defra family of environmental support.

Anyone interested in making an application should contact the Forestry Commission on 017687 76616. Further information can also be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland-grants or www.forestry.gov.uk/ewgs

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. IMAGES: An image of Keith Fisher’s newly created woodland at the Higham Hall Estate, near Bassenthwaite Lake in Cumbria is attached. A higher resolution version is available by calling 015394-42436.

2. The Woodland Creation Grant (WCG) encourages the creation of new woodlands ehre they deliver the greatest public benefits. They also include annual Farm Woodland Payments, which encourage farmers to plant woodlands by compensating them for loss of agricultural income. Applications are judged on the basis of a regional scoring form with the highest ranked schemes being those which are offered a grant. Approximately half of EWGS grants go to WCG schemes in North West England.

3. There are three contributions to the planting grant:

· Woodland Creation Grant: this is the main grant that contributes to the cost of establishing new woodlands that deliver public benefits.
· Additional Contributions: these increase the contribution towards the costs of establishing new woodland in certain situations, such as location and woodland uses (i.e. as public access)
· Farm Woodland Payments: these compensate for agricultural income foregone as a result of creating new woodlands on agricultural land.

4. Forestry Commission England is the government department responsible in England for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests and increasing their value to society and the environment. Forestry makes a real contribution to sustainable development, providing social and environmental benefits arising from planting and managing attractive, as well as productive, woodlands. For further information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland

5. Forestry Commission England runs the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) to support and promote the national and regional delivery of forestry policy, as set out in the Government's Rural Strategy. EWGS is part of the Defra family of environmental support. Further information about these schemes can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/es/default.htm. EWGS is a part of the Rural Development Plan for England (RDPE).

6. The Forestry Commission (FC) North West England (NEW) is a regional arm of the Forestry Commission. It supports the delivery of wide-spread public benefits across the region, using woodland management and creation as the basis for change. The FC NWE region has a diverse remit; as a grant giving body to the woodland sector; the region's forestry regulatory body; helping the region to address climate change by developing wood fuel supply; supporting and developing the region's forest and woodland industries; actively promoting and protecting the Northwest's natural heritage (especially ancient trees and woodlands) and enabling communities across the region to live healthier lives. For further information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland-grants

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Peter Fox (Woodland Officer) on 017687 76616 or 07768-142942; Penny Oliver (Regional
Policy Development Officer) on 07786 171654; or Kevin May (Grants, Regulation and
Partnership Manager) on 017687 76616 or 07771 813139.