We will use this page to give you the very latest news about any developments to forestry grants in Scotland and their related application, amendment or variation and claim processes.
Published March 2013
Update to Strategic Forest Plans – applicant’s guidance booklet - March 2013
The Strategic Forest Plans – applicant’s guidance booklet has been updated to ensure Plans take account of the key issues of tree health and biosecurity. The opportunity has also been taken to update the guidance on other issues such as LISS, control of invasive species and Restructuring Regeneration maps. A full list of changes is shown here (PDF 20k).
Published October 2012
UPDATE on Disease management measures for Chalara fraxinea infected ash in Scotland
Forestry Commission Scotland have issued an Update on the threat to tree health - the highly destructive Chalara dieback of ash trees: Briefing Note 7.1 (PDF 59k)
This Update provides further advice explaining what new legislation will mean for woodland owners in Scotland and provides detailed guidance about alternative species that can be planted during the period of ash movement restrictions.
Published October 2012
Disease management measures for Chalara fraxinea infected ash in Scotland
Forestry Commission Scotland have issued Briefing Note 7. This note is to raise AWARENESS of a new threat to tree health - the highly destructive Chalara dieback of ash trees.
You can read full details in Briefing Note 7 (PDF 40k)
Published October 2012
SRDP Forestry Grants - Rural Priorities
We have introduced changes to the “ongoing approval process” for forestry options from 1 October 2012 to avoid over-spend of our grants budget. This includes:
• To maintain the continuity of essential forest operations, the following Options will remain open and continue to be subject to ongoing approval;
o RP22501D:Sustainable Management of Forests – Restructuring Felling
o P22701:Woodland Improvement Grant – Long Term Forest Planning
o RP22704: Woodland Improvement Grant - Restructuring Regeneration
o RP22703: Woodland Improvement Grant Woodland habitats & Species and
o RP22705: Woodland Improvement Grant Woodland Non woodland habitats, only for Rhododendron removal where this is associated with a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN)
• a monthly “clearing” process for all other applications with a total payments value of £20K or more;
• applications with a total value of payments less than £20K, will continue to be subject to ongoing approval. This £20K threshold will be subject to review;
• we will close Rural Priorities to any new applications containing SMF or WIG options that are not:
o RP22501D:Sustainable Management of Forests – Restructuring Felling
o P22701:Woodland Improvement Grant – Long Term Forest Planning
o RP22704: Woodland Improvement Grant - Restructuring Regeneration
o RP22703: Woodland Improvement Grant Woodland habitats & Species and
o RP22705: Woodland Improvement Grant Woodland Non woodland habitats, only for Rhododendron removal where this is associated with a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN)
You can read the full details in the FCS Briefing Note 6 – SRDP Forestry Grants (PDF 45k)
Published September 2012
-
Timings for applying for SFGS Forest Plans Restocking Grants before current SRDP closes.
-
Final dates for submission of claims for SFGS Forest Plan restocking grants.
-
Advice for those who will not be restocking until 2015 or beyond.
For further information see our Legacy SFGS Forest Plans: claims and amendments page.
Published February 2012
Disease management measures for Phytophthora ramorum infected larch woodlands in Scotland
Forestry Commission Scotland have introduced a package of measures to assist all private woodland owners in Scotland where they have been served with a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) because of the discovery of larch trees infected with Phytophthora ramorum.
Owners who have been served a SPHN for the removal or killing of larch trees since 1st July 2011 will be eligible and the package will run to 30th June 2014.
Grants are available to help with the cost of employing an agent to provide advice and possibly manage the clearance operations. Grants are also available to assist with tree clearance where this proves to be uneconomic.
Published February 2012
Updated Treeline Woodlands Guidance
The Treeline Woodlands Guidance has been updated to clarify funding opportunities and to ensure that treeline woodlands contribute to core FHN expansion zones. Click here for details
Published January 2012
Update to Forest Plans Claims and Amendments page
Updated arrangements for payment of restocking grant for SFGS Forest Plans to closure of Regulations on 31st December 2013. Click here for details
Published January 2012
New Guidance about assessing marginal sites for new native woodland
It is critical that applicants for native woodland creation grant carefully assess the site and climatic constraints of a site for the potential for woodland growth so that the appropriate species and silviculture are chosen to ensure successful establishment. Click here for details
Published January 2012
New Planning Grant
Published November 2011
SMF Restructuring Felling and WIG Restructuring Regeneration grants:
The current guidance about the requirements for a Forest Plan or Management Plan for these two options has been revised to bring it up to date
Revised Felling Licence application form:
The Felling Licence application form has been updated and the new version is available to download from the Felling licence web page.
Published October 2011
Outbreak of Phytopthora ramorum
The main Felling Licence Felling licence web page has been updated with advice about the actions that we propose to take following the latest outbreak of this fungus-like pathogen. A Question and Answer paper is available for download on that page.
Published February 2012
