Farm Woodland Premium Scheme

The Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS) was introduced on 1 April 1992 to replace the Farm Woodland Scheme (FWS).

Please note that the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS) is closed to new applicants but existing agreements will continue until the contracted expiry date.

FWPS Payment Rates (rates last reviewed 1 April 2009)

Arable land

Outside Less Favoured Areas: £300 per hectare (ha) per annum
Disadvantaged Areas of Less Favoured Areas: £230 per ha per annum
Severely Disadvantaged Areas of Less Favoured Areas: £160 per ha per annum

Other Improved Land

Outside Less Favoured Areas: £260 per ha per annum
Disadvantaged Areas of Less Favoured Areas: £200 per ha per annum
Severely Disadvantaged Areas of Less Favoured Areas: £140 per ha per annum

Unimproved Land

Less Favoured Areas (whether Severely Disadvantaged or Disadvantaged Areas): £60 per ha per annum

Funding and compliance

The FWPS is part funded by the EU and all FWPS payments are in addition to woodland establishment grants made under the Forestry Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme.

Where FWPS land is used to meet a farmer's set-aside requirements under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS), the FWPS payment rate will be reduced by the equivalent amount to prevent 'double-funding'.