Correspondence

eAlert: 18 June 2020 - Countryside Stewardship capital grants

Published 19 June 2020

Find out about the changes to Countryside Stewardship capital grants moving from EU to domestic regulations. Check out the two new guides we have recently published on responding to the climate emergency and how trees can help your farm business. Apply now for round 2 of the Urban Tree Challenge Fund and read about updates to the RLE 1 form and guidance and find out more about the England tree planting programme roles we are recruiting for now.

1. Forestry Commission Operational update: coronavirus

We have updated our Operational update to include the latest FISA guidance on safe working during Coronavirus.

2. Countryside Stewardship capital woodland applications

Get your Countryside Stewardship woodland grant applications in before 8 July if you want to plant this winter.

The Countryside Stewardship Woodland Management Planning Grant, Woodland Creation Grant and Woodland Tree Health Grant are changing. Any agreements starting after 1 January 2021 will be made under domestic (UK), not EU, regulations. Agreements made under domestic regulations will offer the same payments currently on offer through the current EU scheme. These changes will also have no impact on existing Countryside Stewardship woodland creation, woodland tree health and woodland management planning agreements starting before 1 January 2021.

We would encourage any potential applicants who want to plant during this winter planting season (2020/21) to submit their Woodland Creation and Woodland Tree Health applications in good time, allowing at least 5 months for processing. If you want to plant before January 2021 you must apply before 8 July 2020.

The Woodland Management Planning Grant will not be transitioned until the Autumn.

If applicants wish to apply under the domestic regulations, applications can be applied for before 1 January 2021, but the agreement cannot start until after this date. The revised application forms for woodland creation and woodland tree health will be available, on line, from 15 July 2020.

3. Urban Tree Challenge Fund

Submit your application for round 2 by 30 June 2020.

The Urban Tree Challenge Fund 2020/21 closes for applications on 30 June 2020. The deadline is approaching so make sure you submit your Round 2 application for your small tree planting projects.

4. England tree planting programme initial recruitment

Check out the application pack on Civil Service Jobs now.

Never has there been a more important time for trees and woodland creation, which is why we are now recruiting for 12 new roles to help deliver our tree planting programme in England. You can find out more and apply on Civil Service Jobs, application closing date is 28 June 2020.

5. Responding to the climate emergency with new trees and woodlands guide

Read our new guide.

The UK’s climate is changing. Trees, woods and forests play a key role in mitigating the effects of climate change. Placing woodland creation at the heart of any response will result in efficient and effective carbon capture, as well as a range of other benefits. The Forestry Commission has produced Responding to the climate emergency with new trees and woodlands to help local authorities and landowning businesses achieve net zero. It includes tips on creating and managing woodland, reducing the use of non-renewable resources through wood and timber products and sources of further information on grant funding.

6. How trees can benefit your farm business

Guide now available online

The Forestry Commission has worked with the Catchment Sensitive Farming partnership to create a new guide aimed at land owners and managers in the agricultural industry. It provides information about the benefits of planting trees on farms, suggests where they could be planted to help realise those benefits and outlines the support available in the form of grants, incentives and expert advice from the relevant organisations.

7. RLE1 form and guidance

Update to the electronic RLE1 form.

Please check your land details on the Rural Payments service before submitting your Countryside Stewardship application or claim.

Use the RLE1 form - electronically or on paper - to make changes to your digital maps, register new land and transfer entitlements by sub-lease or inheritance.

RPA encourages you to use the Rural Payments Online service in the first instance. If you are unable to use the Rural Payments service and need to use an RLE1 form, it can be:

• downloaded, completed electronically and returned to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) as a PDF email attachment
• printed, completed by hand and posted to the RPA

Rural Payments Agency
PO BOX 352
Worksop
S80 9FG

Please read more on GOV.UK about the latest RLE1 updates.