Correspondence

eAlert: 16 June 2021 - England Woodland Creation Offer and application guidance

Published 22 June 2021

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

1. 16 June 2021

Hear more about the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) in our series focusing on Additional Contributions, find out what application deadlines are coming up and see what new guidance we have published this week.

2. Why should you plant trees using the England Woodland Creation Offer?

2.1 In addition to covering the standard capital costs of tree planting (up to a cap of £8,500 per hectare), and annual maintenance payments of £200 per hectare for 10 years, follow our series in upcoming eAlerts to find out more about the Additional Contributions that you could apply for. These Additional Contributions are optional and can be combined.

Up to £2,000 per hectare for woodlands along riverbanks that improve water quality and habitats.

3. Choose Water Quality £400/ha

Available where woodland creation will help reduce pollutants through land use change that reduces fertilizer application and/or creating woodland that intercepts pollution and sediment before it reaches water courses. 

This Additional Contribution will be awarded on the following basis:

• spatial targeting: proposed woodland meeting the design requirements must touch a High Priority area ‘Water – Water Quality’ layer on the FC’s map browser and Land Information Search
• species mix: UKFS compliance with no one species more than 50% of the mixture for climate adaptation. Productive broadleaf or conifer species will provide the greatest benefits for water, but larger scale planting of conifers should be avoided where water resources are an issue
• stocking density: minimum of 1,100 stems per hectare (closer spacing recommended across runoff pathways)

4. Choose Riparian buffers £1,600/ha

Available where the creation of native broadleaved woodland along water courses will improve river habitats. £1,600/ha

This Additional Contribution will be awarded on areas up to 50 metres from the watercourse on the following basis:

• spatial targeting: proposed woodland meeting the design requirements will be planted within 10 metres of the watercourse and within the ‘Keeping Rivers Cool’ layer on the FC’s map browser and Land Information Search
• species mix: native species (excluding advancing or honorary native species) to provide dappled shade and ensure that the seed of invasive tree species are not transported by watercourses
• stocking density: maximum of 1,100 stems per hectare and 40% open space to create woodland that provides 50% dappled shade at the riverbank
• ground preparation: no pre-planting drainage or land preparation work that creates new ditches or drains, or that would increase drainage to an existing watercourse, including sub-soil drainage. The use of tree guards should be avoided in riparian zones where there is a risk that they could be washed away in flood events

4.1 Find out more about the England Woodland Creation Offer

5. Watch our video case study on the benefits of woodland creation on farmland

5.1 Watch our video case study where Forestry Commission Woodland Officer Luke talks to Steve Ramshaw, owner of Monkridge Hill Farm, about his 100 hectare woodland creation project and the benefits that tree planting on his land has brought.

The Benefits of Woodland Creation on Farmland

5.2 Apply now for the England Woodland Creation Offer.

6. Updates to ECWO guidance

We have updated the Grant Manual and the Terms and Conditions to clarify that currently capital works under EWCO agreements must be completed and claimed for by 31 March 2023. Please be sure to check the GOV.UK EWCO application form page so you are always using the latest edition of the guidance and application forms.

We will be running webinars to run through EWCO and will share details on how to register for one of these next week.

7. New Woods into Management Regional woodland restoration Innovation Funds open

7.1 We have added two new regional funds

Regional Woodland Restoration Innovation Funds focusing on improving woodlands in the East of England and East Midlands and Yorkshire and the North East areas are open for applications. Up to £70k is available in each area for projects that improve biodiversity, conserve threatened species and address problems caused by invasive species, pests and diseases. Closing dates are 23.59 on Monday 12 July 2021 for applicants to the East of England and East Midlands fund and 23.59 on Monday 19 July 2021 for applicants bidding for the Yorkshire and the North East fund. You can find more information on our Woods into Management GOV.UK page. These are in addition to the fund for the North West and West Midlands which closes at 23:59 on 20 June 2021.

8. Reminders of upcoming deadlines

8.1 We don’t want you to miss an application deadline - so check out what’s closing soon so you don’t miss out

HS2 Woodland Fund – application deadline is the 18 June 2021.

Three of the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds close for applications on the 20 June 2021.

• routes to market for ash timber Innovation Fund
• temporary infrastructure Innovation Fund
• regional woodland restoration Innovation fund for the North West and West Midlands area

Local Authority Treescapes Fund - application deadline 30 June 2021.

9. Funding for tree nurseries that supply trees to Scotland - apply for the Harvesting and Processing grant

9.1 Applications close on 30 June 2021.

This funding from Defra and the Scottish Government, looks to support tree nurseries in England who supply trees to Scotland. It is part of the national effort under the Nature for Climate fund to plant more trees.

Tree nurseries in England can use the funding for seed trays, seed storage and sowing equipment, poly tunnels, cold storage facilities and irrigation systems. Adaptations to vehicles, machinery and premises to allow tree nurseries to continue safely under COVID-19 are also supported.

Find out if you’re eligible for the Harvesting and Processing Grant.

10. Woodland Carbon Guarantee

10.1 Apply for the fourth auction by 9 July.

Farmers and land managers across England are reminded to apply by 9 July 2021 for the Woodland Carbon Guarantee, ahead of the fourth auction taking place online between 26 July and 1 August 2021. Through the fourth auction £10m will be available from the scheme’s £50m pot for farmers and land managers to create new woodlands to help tackle the effects of climate change. If you want to plant this winter, now is the time to submit your application.

The Guarantee provides land managers with new tree planting projects the option to sell their captured carbon in the form of verified carbon credits, called Woodland Carbon Units (WCUs), to the government for a guaranteed price every 5 or 10 years up to 2055/56. Before you apply for the Guarantee, you will need to have registered with the Woodland Carbon Code, which provides the tools and information required to plan your woodland and calculate the amount of carbon that it will remove from the atmosphere.

For further information please contact wcag@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

11. Take a look at our ash dieback hub on GOV.UK

11.1 All the information you need in one place.

Our new Managing ash dieback in England GOV.UK page offers an overview of all the advice on ash dieback disease and management and signposts to key sources of guidance. We have kept it short and simple to help customers easily find the information that they are looking for.

12. New guidance on peatland protection and woodland establishment available on GOV.UK

12.1 Interim guidance to support grant application Environmental Impact Assessment decisions.

Read our new interim guidance on ‘peatland protection and the establishment of new woodland’ published to support England Woodland Creation Offer applications and other grant applications/Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening or decisions in progress.

This guidance applies immediately to all new grant and EIA applications.