Guidance

Guidance on how to apply for the SSA grant

Published 1 October 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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/spruce-site-assessment-funding-eligibility-and-how-to-apply/guidance-on-how-to-apply-for-the-ssa-grant

About the Spruce Site Assessment (SSA) grant

The SSA grant is for landowners and land managers in England with spruce trees on land inside the Ips typographus Proactive Spruce Removal Area.

The SSA grant offers a fixed payment of £2,000. This funding is for landowners (or their agents) to assess their woodland to understand the amount and condition of spruce present and plan for potential felling and restocking.

This proactive approach aims to reduce the risks of Ips typographus (eight-toothed spruce bark beetle) and outbreaks occurring by removing material that might be susceptible to the beetle. If outbreaks are found, Statutory Plant Health Notices (SPHNs) are issued. SPHNs require the owner to take specific urgent forestry actions. Find out more about the SPHN process for Ips typographus infestations.

There are 65 SSA agreements offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

The SSA will help you to:

The information and costings in the SSA will function as a guide to the landowner. Payment of a grant claim for SSA does not represent a commitment to pay any of the felling or restocking costs stated in the assessment.

If you intend to remove spruce after a SSA, the details collected can be used for future Tree Health Pilot applications.

Who can apply

You must be the landowner or have management control of the land to be eligible to apply.

You must own spruce trees (Picea A. Dietr.) in the Proactive Spruce Removal Area. Check the map to see if your land is inside the Proactive Spruce Removal Area.

The map includes the Priority Spruce Removal Area, which represents where wind dispersal mapping has indicated the highest risk of the beetle blowing over from the continent.

Alternatively, an agent can apply on your behalf by submitting a completed agent authority form.

The person carrying out the assessment should be adequately experienced in planning and managing felling and replanting operations.

What land is eligible

Only one property is eligible per SSA grant agreement. You must include all spruce on the property in the SSA form.

The land you are applying to survey must:

  • include a minimum of 0.5 hectares of spruce - this can be broken down into any sized blocks, but the total must be at least 0.5 ha
  • have at least 0.5 ha of spruce on the property that is completely within the Proactive Spruce Removal Area
  • be under a single ownership
  • not fall under an existing SPHN for Ips typographus or have Ips typographus identified as being present
  • not fall under an existing proactive spruce removal offer agreement within the Tree Health Pilot

What to include in your assessment form

You must undertake the assessment on the SSA form and provide clear details to help inform costing of felling, extraction and restocking operations. This includes:

Location

Map all the spruce on the property.

Condition

Check and record the health of the trees and any susceptible material, for example, needle density and colour, dieback or canopy decline, extent of windblown or snapped spruce, damage, harvesting residues or log stacks.

Site constraints

Identify any existing:

  • operational challenges, for example difficult access, steep slopes, hard-to-reach areas or wet ground
  • environmental concerns, for example watercourses, special designations or priority habitats
  • social issues, for example public rights of way or nearby homes

Expected costs

Estimate costs for all operations and activities required to fell all the spruce on the property and restock, according to the identified constraints. For example, felling, extraction, brash management, setting up temporary roads or areas, safety equipment or biosecurity items.

Funding is available through the proactive spruce felling grant (under the Tree Health Pilot) to assist with the cost of felling spruce. You should include estimates for any potential grant support in your SSA survey.

These improved rates will be available late autumn 2025. They pay a percentage of actual costs for felling trees and infrastructure.

Rates for felling and associated costs of proactive spruce removal

These intervention rates pay a percentage of actual costs (gross) for felling trees.

80% will be paid if one or more of the following apply:  

  • the site is in the ‘priority area’ of the Proactive Spruce Removal Area
  • the site is of low resilience to Ips typographus incursions - based on the level of susceptible material and confirmed by a woodland officer

40% will be paid if proactive felling within the Proactive Spruce Removal Area does not meet the 80% rate criteria.

These rates are based on quotes for actual felling cost. This is independent of any timber income.

Rates for permanent infrastructure

This intervention rate pays 100% of actual costs for permanent infrastructure. It is capped at £30 per m2 or £100 per linear m.

The maximum application value for the proactive spruce felling grant under the Tree Health Pilot is £100,000.

Map of operations

Provide clear and detailed map(s) showing the plan for spruce removal based on your survey.

You must include the following information on any map:

  • map title
  • agreement reference
  • author name
  • date
  • national grid reference
  • key
  • scale
  • woodland boundary for that ownership
  • all areas of spruce on the property: locations of small groups or individual trees can be indicative
  • proposed felling operation required to remove spruce (clearfell/selective group felling/thinning/individual trees)
  • all felling constraints
  • new infrastructure requirements or improvements including lengths or area

Land not eligible

Land is not eligible for this grant if:

  • there is less than 0.5ha spruce trees on the property within the demarcated area
  • you already have a Tree Health Pilot agreement for proactive spruce removal on the survey area
  • spruce trees within the application are under an existing SPHN
  • Forest Research have confirmed the presence of Ips typographus on your property

Your application may be rejected if:

  • mandatory documentation, such as a map or agent authority form, is not provided or is incomplete/inaccurate
  • it contains false or misleading information
  • it is for activities outside the scope of an SSA

How to apply

Email us to request an application form: SSAenquiries@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

Enter ‘Spruce Site Assessment application form request’ in the email subject line.

We will email an application form to you.

Deadline and when to apply

Grants are offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

We will keep the fund open until we have offered all 65 agreements, or until 28 February 2026, whichever is sooner.

After you have applied

We will tell you if you are successful or not within 2 to 6 weeks of receiving your application.

If your application is successful, we will send you:

  • an agreement offer letter
  • the grant terms and conditions
  • the SSA survey form
  • a claim form

You must sign and return the agreement offer and terms and conditions to accept the grant offer.

Return by email or post:

Email: SSAenquiries@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

Post:

Forestry Commission
Incentives, Development and Compliance Team (Tree Health, spruce management)
620 Bristol Business Park
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol
BS16 1EJ

You can make a complaint or appeal against a Forestry Commission decision.

After you have signed your agreement

You must complete and submit the following by 31 March 2026:

  • SSA survey
  • associated maps
  • a completed claim form

You can submit via email or post.

Any subsequent application for funding towards proactive felling may require evidence in the form of quotes for the work.

The agreement holder must provide feedback at the request of the Forestry Commission and/or Defra throughout the duration of the agreement to input into Ips typographus grant evaluation and development.

If a felling licence is needed, submit a felling licence application at the earliest opportunity: apply online for a felling licence.

Refer to the SSA grant terms and conditions for more information.

Further information

For further information email us at: SSAenquiries@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

Find out what grants are available under the Tree Health Pilot scheme.

Read further Ips typographus resources:

Back to top