eAlert: 3 November 2022
Published 7 November 2022
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ealert-3-november-2022/ealert-3-november-2022
1. Check out our recent case studies: Glenthorne Woods and Chatsworth Estate
Glenthorne Woods
Find out how 9.4 ha of woodland was created to convert a site overrun with invasive rhododendron bushes into a species-rich and connected woodland, to support greater biodiversity.
Read Glenthorne Woods case study.
Chatsworth House in Derbyshire
See how estate managers are transforming six hectares of underused land into new woodland. The project will connect and expand existing woodland habitat to support nature recovery and provide natural flood defenses.
Read Chatsworth case study.
2. ‘Why woods are so important for nature’ blog post and biodiversity fact sheet
Read our new blog post and biodiversity fact sheet.
Hear from Kate Tobin, Nature Recovery Policy Advisor, on why woods are so important for nature. In this blog Kate talks about how important our remaining ancient woodlands are for nature networks and how creating all types of woodland can contribute to nature recovery.
You can also find out how woodland creation can help biodiversity in our new leaflet The benefits of woodland creation: Woods for Nature.
3. Woodland Carbon Guarantee deadline - 6 November
Don’t miss the application deadline.
The Woodland Carbon Guarantee (WCaG) is a £50 million scheme that aims to help accelerate woodland planting rates and develop the domestic market for woodland carbon for the permanent removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The next Woodland Carbon Guarantee auction will take place from midday on Monday 21 November to midday on Sunday 27 November 2022. The application deadline to take part in the auction in 23:59pm on Sunday 6 November. The budget available for the auction will be £10m.
In order to apply you must first register your project with the Woodland Carbon Code.
If you have registered for the Woodland Carbon Code and meet the other eligibility requirements, please complete the Woodland Carbon Guarantee application form and return it to: wcag@forestrycommission.gov.uk
4. Seed Sourcing Grant application deadline - 13 November
Don’t miss the application deadline.
The Seed Sourcing Grant (SSG) is a competitive grant to provide support for activities that enhance the quality, quantity, and diversity of tree seed sources in England.
The government has renewed commitment to net zero targets, and the SSG will help to ensure the availability of planting stock to meet these targets.
The SSG is looking to support projects that will increase the quality, quantity, and diversity of seed stands and seed orchards on the Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) National Register for Basic Material. The final deadline for applications is 23.55 Sunday 13 November 2022.
Visit our Seed Sourcing Grant page to find out how to apply.
5. First ever UK woodland natural flood management guide published
Read our new guide.
Today, Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Forestry and Northern Ireland Forest Service have published a new UK Forestry Standard Practice Guide: Designing and managing forests and woodlands to reduce flood risk.
The practice guide includes how woodland creation and management can reduce flood risk, it will also enable the forest sector to play a stronger role in flood mitigation, which will increase the resilience of communities to flooding and reduce the financial impact of future floods.
Find out more in the press release: First ever UK woodland natural flood management guide published.
6. Update to the Countryside Stewardship Monitoring Schedule template
Find out how the updates could help you.
The Forestry Commission’s Countryside Stewardship Monitoring template has been updated with some minor changes, the guidance and template are available on GOV.UK: Monitoring and evidence gathering: operations note 50.
The updates are:
- the template has been converted from an xlsm to an xslx file and macros have been removed
- data can now be imported manually from an application’s Higher Tier Annex 2
- the guidance available in Operations Note 50 has also been updated to reflect these changes
Please download the new template to use next time you need to submit evidence to the Forestry Commission.