PA3: Woodland management plan
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the woodland management plan item.
How much will be paid
| Threshold | Payment |
|---|---|
| First 100 hectares (ha) | £30 per ha (minimum payment £1,500) |
| Over 100 ha | £15 per ha |
The woodland management plan must cover all the woodland on the holding, including all newly planted woodland. The amount paid will be calculated on the entire eligible area of woodland on the holding. This calculation can include up to an additional 20% of newly planted woodland (this means woodland that is under 10 years old at the time of application). Areas over 20% will be deducted from the total area for payment but must still be covered in the management plan.
Where to use this item
Only on woodland.
Where this item cannot be used
On woodland:
- that is less than 3ha in total
- where there is already a Forestry Commission (FC) approved management plan and only minor changes are needed to meet the current UK Forestry Standard (UKFS)
How this item will benefit the environment
It will help with the cost of producing a management plan for existing woodland that complies with the standard set by UKFS.
A woodland management plan will help:
- develop and communicate objectives and work proposals for the woodland
- clearly demonstrate how a woodland area will be managed sustainably and monitored
Requirements
- produce a detailed 10 year management plan using the FC template (includes guidance), that complies with the standard set by UKFS
- make sure the plan covers all woodland on the holding or, for larger holdings, all woodland within the same landscape setting
Keeping records
Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them on request:
- any consents or permissions connected with the work
- receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
- Forestry Commission Woodland Management Plan approval letter
Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Higher Tier guidance for more detail. You can find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.
The detailed requirements for this item will be tailored to the Higher Tier site. Higher Tier applicants should discuss and agree these requirements with their adviser.
Further information
Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about woodland management plans including how to apply.
If you have a Higher Tier agreement with Woodland Improvement (WD2) and already have an existing woodland management plan which is due to expire, you must apply for a new woodland management plan. This is to make sure you continue to meet the eligibility criteria for Woodland Improvement (WD2).
Last updated 8 February 2022 + show all updates
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'Further information' section updated
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Information updated for applications in 2016.
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First published.