Routes to market for ash timber Innovation Fund
Find out about the Woods into Management Routes to Market for Ash Timber Innovation Fund and how you can compete for funding to help restore woodlands suffering from ash dieback.
Applies to England
The fund is currently closed for applications.
Invitation to apply
Find out about the Woods into Management Routes to Market for Ash Timber Innovation Fund and how you can compete for funding to help restore woodlands suffering from ash dieback.
About the Innovation Fund
The aim of Woods into Management (WiM), as part of government’s Nature for Climate Fund, is to encourage and broaden innovation in forestry that results in improved ecological condition of existing woodlands and the role they play in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Ash dieback is expected to cause millions of our ash trees to die over the next 10-20 years. Using a proportion of the wood from infected trees could help owners offset the cost of managing ash dieback and has the potential to displace carbon intensive material and fossil fuels. It will also provide owners with opportunities to improve woodland habitats and increase resilience to climate change, pests and disease. This management, combined with suitable natural regeneration or restocking, will help ensure woodlands suffering from ash dieback continue to sequester carbon and provide public benefits in the long term.
One of the key issues that has been identified that particularly affects the management of native woodland is the very fragmented ownership pattern of this habitat. All woodland in England has been managed to produce timber and firewood in the past and this has shaped the habitats and biodiversity valued by society. Today, many owners have no easy way of bringing wood to market and this hampers efforts to manage diseases, maintain and improve habitat condition. At the same time, the UK remains the second largest timber importer in the world, sourcing 80% of the timber it consumes from overseas.
To help address these issues the Forestry Commission is launching an innovation fund to which applications are invited. Through the fund, the Forestry Commission is looking to support projects developing innovative routes to market for ash timber. Projects should target novel ways in which woodland habitats can be restored, with an initial emphasis on ash, using market pull to offset woodland management costs and increase the volume of home-grown timber used by British businesses and consumers. The innovation can be at the global level, i.e., completely novel (but of direct relevance to England), or it can be innovative to England by seeking to apply approaches used elsewhere in the world.
Applicants are invited to submit single year projects due to complete by March 2024, or two-year proposals scheduled to complete no later than March 2025. Proposals can be costed at up to a maximum of £100K per year and we would encourage applications for projects that result in:
- restored woodland SSSI containing ash
- restored Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites that are currently stocked with ash
- more native woodlands covered by long term, UK Forestry Standard compliant, woodland management plans focused on habitat improvement and maintenance of carbon stocks
- more native woodlands containing suitable species and provenances tolerant to climate change, ensuring long term carbon sequestration potential is maintained or improved
- reducing the risk of falling ash trees injuring people and damaging property e.g. ash trees next to roads, public rights of way and buildings
- supply chains able to support the management and improvement of native woodlands in the long term
We are particularly interested in projects that develop collaborative working amongst forestry businesses, conservation bodies and private woodland owners. Projects may incorporate an element of original research but must include some practical application.
What funding is available?
In 2023, up to £1.7million will be made available through the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds to support innovative project work. Proposals, whether single or multi-year, must have a minimum total cost of £20K to be eligible for funding. Projects may be costed at up to a maximum of £100K in any given financial year.
Eligible costs that may be claimed will include:
- personnel costs related to researchers, and other supporting staff to the extent employed on the project
- costs of equipment for the period of the project. Where such equipment is not used for their full life only the depreciation costs corresponding to the life of the project shall be eligible
- costs of contractual research, knowledge and patents bought or licensed from outside sources at arm’s-length conditions, as well as costs of consultancy and equivalent services used exclusively for the project
- operating expenses, including costs of materials, supplies and similar products, incurred directly as a result of the project
- travel and subsistence essential to the delivery of WiM Forestry Innovation Fund (FIF) grant activities, carried out in the most economically and sustainable way possible
The following expenditure is ineligible:
- costs or overheads such as rent, and utilities apportioned to those staff directly or indirectly employed on the project
- costs incurred outside of the project delivery window
- costs involved in preparing your application
Is my project eligible?
Projects can be single year with output(s) that will be fully developed by 27 March 2024 or two-year proposals set to run for up to two financial years, ending 27 March 2025. Applicants submitting proposals spanning two financial years should state this on the application form and clearly outline the activities, milestones and outputs that will be delivered by the end of each financial year. Multi-year agreements will be subject to an annual performance monitoring review by the Forestry Commission. Where applicants are failing to deliver against agreed outputs and objectives, or it becomes clear that avenues of research are no longer worth pursuing, multi-year agreements may be terminated at the discretion of the Forestry Commission.
Work must be of direct relevance to means by which woodland habitats can be restored, with an initial emphasis on ash, using market pull to offset woodland management costs and increase the volume of home-grown timber used by British businesses and consumers.
To be eligible for funding the:
- project must look at innovative approaches not currently used in forestry in England
- project must be limited to pre-commercial activity
- lead partner must be a UK based business, sole trader, organisation, or research organisation
- majority of any project work must be undertaken in England
All eligibility criteria are fully described in the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds Application Form.
How do I apply?
The fund is currently closed for applications.
Complete the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds application form and accompanying finance spreadsheet. Guidance for applicants is available on the application form page to help you complete you application.
Applications closed on 15 May 2023.
The Forestry Commission will be hosted a “Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds – How to Apply” webinar event at 2pm on Monday 3 April. If you missed the webinar you can watch again.
A single stage application process will be followed.
Applications must be written in English, (without alterations to layout or format). Send your completed application and accompanying finance spreadsheet to wimfif@forestrycommission.gov.uk. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
In the application form you will be asked to provide details about:
- what the project aims to achieve and how it fits within the scope of the fund
- the approach you will take and where the focus of the innovation will be
- who is in the project team and what their roles are, including details of partner organisations
- the impact that the project might have outside of the project team
- how the project will be managed effectively
- the main risks for the project
- the impact that an injection of public funding would have on the project
- the cost of the project and how it represents value for money for the project team and for the taxpayer
- the activities to be funded and outputs/outcomes expected
All costs and financial details should be in £ Sterling.
All questions in the application form are mandatory and you must submit a finance spreadsheet as part of your application. If any part of your application is incomplete, your application will be returned to you within two working days for you to revise and resubmit before the deadline should you wish. If any part of your application is unclear, the Forestry Commission may contact you – at any time prior to informing you of a funding decision – to request further information. If you wish to amend your application before the published deadline or withdraw your application at any time, please email wimfif@forestrycommission.gov.uk
There is no limit to the number of bids an applicant may submit provided each application is for a discrete and unique project.
Consortium applications are welcomed. A lead partner should be identified in the application. The lead applicant will become the sole agreement holder with the Forestry Commission; they will be responsible for the undertakings and obligations detailed in any grant agreement, in line with Terms and Conditions of Funding. If your application is successful, the lead applicant will become the sole agreement holder and will be the sole recipient of grant funding upon receipt of valid claims. The contractual arrangements held between the lead applicant and their co-applicants are not the responsibility of the Forestry Commission and the lead applicant will have sole responsibility for onward disbursal of grant funding to co-applicants, for example.
If you consider the information contained within your application to be commercially sensitive, you must notify the Forestry Commission of this when submitting your application.
The Forestry Commission reserves the right to change the deadline for applications or make changes to the Invitation to Apply and the application process at short notice. The Forestry Commission reserves the right to amend, add to or withdraw all or any part of the funding application process at any time during the process. All changes are recorded at the bottom of this page (click ‘show all updates’) and where these are made following the opening date the lead applicant for all applications already received will be contacted directly by email. Material changes (for example to the closing date or eligibility rules) will also be communicated via the Forestry Commission’s Grants and Regulations eAlert.
If you wish to clarify any application requirements or the application process, please email wimfif@forestrycommission.gov.uk. We will aim to respond to all requests for clarification within two working days of receipt. If we consider information requests relevant to any applicant, we will provide additional guidance to all applicants (via point of contact provided) by email to ensure fair and openness. We may be unable to respond to other support requests due to the competitive bid process.
Applicants who canvass FC or Defra employees associated with these innovation funds may have their applications rejected from the process.
Applicants who are unable to accept standard terms and conditions may have their application eliminated from the application process.
The Forestry Commission reserves the right not to answer clarifications where it considers that the answer to that clarification would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests.
How will applications be assessed?
All applications will be evaluated by a panel with expertise and experience of woodland management and timber markets in England. Any applications deemed to fall outside the scope of the fund will not be evaluated.
Applicants will be notified of their WiM funding decision by 22 June 2023.
The Forestry Commission reserves the right to not award all of the funding available if insufficient bids of an appropriate quality are received.
The Forestry Commission may carry out checks on each application using a variety of government tools including the Cabinet Office’s automated grants due diligence tool called ‘Spotlight’ and Bank Account Verification software.
As part of due diligence process, the Forestry Commission may share details of the organisations involved in applications to this Innovation Fund with other parts of government.
The Forestry Commission will regard all eligible applications as remaining valid for 6 months after the initial closing date for applications. If the funds are oversubscribed and additional funds become available. Valid applications may be reconsidered for funding.
Reporting and payments
Grant holders will be required to complete an interim and end of year report in each financial year covered by their agreement. These reports will detail achievement against stated outcomes and outputs, lessons learnt, a complete cost breakdown outlining how the grant has been spent, and any need for further development.
Interim reports are due on 31 October (31 September in Year 2), and end of year reports are due by 27 March of each financial year. Templates for both interim and end of year reports will be provided to successful applicants. Payments may be withheld or reclaimed if reports are not submitted on time. Applicants will be encouraged to work with the Forestry Commission to publish a short article in a suitable trade press after the work has been completed.
Multi-year agreements will be subject to an annual performance monitoring review by the FC. Where applicants are failing to deliver against agreed outputs and objectives, or it becomes clear that avenues of research are no longer worth pursuing, multi-year agreements may be terminated at the discretion of the FC.
Projects must not begin before the start date of any grant agreement offered by the Forestry Commission.
Payments will be made in arrears by BACS transfer following receipt of claim forms. Payment of the claim will be made within 30 days of the FC approving your claim. In any given financial year, applicants will be able to submit claims at both the interim and end of year reporting stages, and on up to two additional dates chosen by the applicant. All claims must be supported by evidence of eligible expenditure (i.e. invoices/ timesheets) and, where not accompanied by an interim or end of year report, a progress update to demonstrate that works have been carried out as per the grant agreement.
Further Information
Intellectual property shall remain with the grant recipients, but the scope of the project and a summary of the outcomes and outputs shall be made publicly available via forestry trade publications.
Applicants must declare if they have received, have applied for, or intend to apply for any other government funds.
The Forestry Commission is not responsible for any losses, breakages or injuries incurred by the applicant whilst engaged in activities associated with this Innovation Fund.
Neither FC nor its respective advisers, directors, officers, members, partners, employees, other staff or agents:
a) makes any representation or warranty (express or implied) as to the accuracy, reasonableness or completeness of this guidance; or
b) accepts any responsibility for the information contained in this guidance or for the fairness, accuracy or completeness of that information nor shall any of them be liable for any loss or damage (other than in respect of fraudulent misrepresentation) arising as a result of reliance on such information or any subsequent communication.
Contact the Forestry Commission
You can get further help from the FC by emailing your enquiry to WIMFIF@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
Make an appeal
Last updated 8 December 2023 + show all updates
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Added a note to confirm the fund is currently closed for applications.
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Updated information on applications for 2023
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Page updated to reflect the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds reopening.
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First published.