Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this scheme is to create small-scale mixed broadleaved and conifer woodlands on farms and other rural land.

You must meet all eligibility criteria listed in the Woodland Creation page and:

• you must comply with the UK Forestry Standard
• the minimum planting width is 15 metres
• the minimum block size is 0.25 hectares up to a maximum five hectares
• up to 10 hectares of woodland is eligible per business. This is a small woodland option and is restricted to stand-alone applications of 10 hectares or less in size. It is not to be used as part of a design with other woodland creation options and applications greater than 10 hectares should not include this option
• your application must meet the species composition criteria in the table below

Composition of small or farm woodland
Item	Minimum (per cent)	Maximum (per cent)	Minimum stocking density on the planted area at year five (per hectare)
Broadleaves suitable for timber production	20	60	2500
Diverse conifer [1]	20	60	2500
Native broadleaves or shrubs [2]	10	10	1100
Designed open ground [3]	0	10	n/a
[1] Up to 10 per cent of the ‘diverse conifer’ species area can be Sitka spruce if the applicant can clearly demonstrate that it will provide shelter or other benefits to aid the establishment of the diverse conifers. [2] Up to 20 per cent of the native broadleaves can be native woody shrubs. [3] You must refer to the designed open ground guidance on the Forestry Commission Scotland Technical Support page to see how designed open ground will apply to your application. For example additional open ground, in excess of the specified percentage, may be permissible depending on the specifics of the site, but will not be eligible for grant support.

Please note that in order to achieve 100 per cent from the table above you will not be able to select all minimum or all of the maximum values.

Species selection

As an initial first step in determining whether or not the site is climatically suitable, you should view the Forestry Grant Scheme (2014–2020) Climatic Site Suitability folder on the Forestry Commission Scotland Map Viewer page.

Any applications that are not shown as being climatically suitable will only be considered if you can clearly demonstrate that the site is suitable for the chosen species of trees, for example where there is localised shelter in an otherwise exposed location.

As per the eligibility criteria of the Woodland Creation general guidance the tree species must be 'suitable' or 'very suitable' to the site and have the capacity to achieve the following minimum average yield classes across the application area:

• yield class 6 for broadleaves suitable for timber production
• yield class 8 for Scots pine and larch
• yield class 12 for Norway spruce, western red cedar and other conifer species

Threshold score = 10 points

Each option within your application must meet the threshold score to be considered for approval. In achieving the threshold score your option must score against each criterion except for additional benefit. The scores will then be used as the basis for allocating funding on a competitive basis through the Forestry Grant Scheme clearing process.

Delivery of option benefits

1 POINT – for applications that meet the eligibility criteria but do not deliver any of the benefits below.

3 POINTS – for applications that provide one or more of the following in addition to meeting the eligibility requirements:

• applications that help to enhance and diversify a farmed landscapes

Or

• applications that clearly identify, in the woodland creation operational plan, the opportunities and ‘cumulative benefits’ that will be delivered by the type of woodland planting being proposed (refer to the Forestry Commission Scotland booklet – The creation of small woodlands on farms)

5 POINTS - for applications that meet one of the three point criteria above and the criteria below:

• applications within one of the priority areas identified in the FCS-SEPA opportunity mapping projects as likely to provide multiple benefits for natural flood management and water quality. Select the Forestry Grant Scheme 2014–2020 Target Area folder on the Forestry Commission Scotland Map Viewer to confirm

Scale of delivery

1 POINT – for applications between 0.25 hectares and 0.99 hectares.

3 POINTS – for applications between 1 hectare and 1.99 hectares.

5 POINTS – for applications above 2 hectares.

Delivering better quality

1 POINT – for applications that meet the minimum diversity eligibility criteria for this option, which is:

• a minimum 20 per cent broadleaves suitable for timber production and a minimum 20 per cent diverse conifer

3 POINTS – for applications that deliver more than the minimum diversity eligibility criteria for this option, which is:

• a minimum 25 per cent broadleaves for timber production and a minimum 25 per cent diverse conifer

5 POINTS – for applications that deliver the maximum diversity eligibility criteria for this option, which is:

• a minimum 30 per cent broadleaves for timber production and a minimum 30 per cent diverse conifer. You must clearly show that you have taken opportunities to maximise species diversity appropriate to the site, where these opportunities exist. The 'broadleaved' and 'diverse conifer' components must be 'suitable' for the site

Delivery of good practice

1 POINT – for applications which meet the minimum relevant industry standards, but do not deliver any of the benefits detailed below.

3 POINTS – for applications that meet one of the criteria detailed below:

• applications which demonstrate that you have liaised with consultees, communities and neighbours, prior to the scheme being submitted and addressed, where possible, any points they may have raised

5 POINTS – for applications that meet one of the criteria detailed below:

• applications which clearly demonstrate that you have thoroughly assessed the site conditions and propose the most appropriate management techniques to minimise the impacts to the environment. This must be beyond what you might be compelled to do within the conditions of the contract or recognised as an industry standard practice

Or

• applications which are community owned, led, or supported and clearly demonstrate the delivery of significant benefits to the local community such as designed landscape

Value for money

Applications where the cost of ancillary eligible capital supporting works, for example fencing, gates, tree shelters, bracken control, are:

1 POINT – more than 30 per cent of the total capital cost for initial planting.

6 POINTS – less than 30 per cent of the total capital cost for initial planting.

Example for 6 points Core capital item: Initial planting 7 hectares small various Woodland Creation = £16,320. (5 hectares Small or Farm Woodlands and 2 hectares Diverse Conifer) Ancillary capital items: Upgrade stock to deer fence: 1000 metres x £3.28 = £3,280 Rabbit proofing: 500 metres x £1.60 = £800 Ancillary costs as a percentage of total grant sought: £4,080 ÷ £16,320 = 25%

10 POINTS – less than 10 per cent of the total capital cost for initial planting.

Supplementary point – additional benefit

1 POINT – will be awarded, as an additional point, where:

• applications are in an area identified as ‘preferred’ within the relevant Forestry and Woodland Strategy (or equivalent)

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