Andrew Ranson of Fisher German’s Banbury office warns woodland owners who are considering the new Woodland Management Grant that they may be better off considering entering into the Entry Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme instead.
The Forestry Commission have published guidance for Woodland Management Grant applicants which states that applicants will only be considered if the woodland has been certified to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard. This certification process could be expensive and applications for grants could be highly competitive. This being the case, some applicants would have gone to the cost of becoming certified and tying themselves into certification agreements and later being turned down for the Woodland Management Grant.
Under the ELS Scheme there are limited points scoring options for woodland, the main one relating to woodland edges. However if sufficient points can be scored perhaps elsewhere, this could prove a more favourable route for funding.
For further information please contact Andrew Ranson on 01295 271555.
