Countryside Stewardship is the new overarching scheme under which agri-environment, catchment sensitive farming and Woodland Grants will be made.
Its launch last year was widely regarded as totally chaotic, with some guidance notes arriving after the application deadline had closed. So it was testament to the pioneering nature of many farmers and their advisors that 2,344 Mid Tier and 326 Higher Tier applications were submitted. Having said that, Natural England is still working through these applications despite the start date of the schemes being January 1, 2016.
However a number of new grants and initiatives have, or are about to open that may interest farmers in these straightened times despite last year’s applications still needing to be sorted.
On February 1 the Hedges and Boundaries Capital Grant scheme opened which is a stand-alone application process under the overall banner of Countryside Stewardship.
The maximum grant available is £5,000 per farmer and the application period closes on April 30.
There are 12 capital items available with different payment rates which include grants for:
- Hedgerows: planting, laying, coppicing, gapping up and supplements for casting up and top binding and staking
- Earth bank restoration
- Stone faced banks: repair and restoration
- Stone walls: restoration and supplements for top wiring and stone from quarry
The supplements can only be applied for with the associated capital item, and photographic evidence will be required before and after the works take place.
While on a rather grander scale, the CS Facilitation Fund opened on January 18 with the aim of providing support to bring together groups of farmers to work in partnership to deliver CS at a “Landscape scale”. This scheme closes on March 18.
The facilitator needs to be able to demonstrate environmental land management experience and facilitation skills. They will be required to bring together a minimum of four landowners whose total farm area is at least 2,000 hectares and the facilitator could receive up to £12,000 per annum. The applications are assessed on a competitive basis.
Then expressions of interest for the CS Higher Tier will need to be submitted during February/March. These will be assessed by Natural England with those which are approved being worked up in to full applications between June and September for the actual agreement to commence on January 1, 2017.
Finally, the Mid Tier application manual with online “priorities option tool” will be available from mid March which hopefully will help farmers understand what Natural England are looking to achieve, thereby making the application process which runs from June 1 to September 30 more straightforward than last year’s.
James Stephen MRICS FAAV
Partner
Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, Wells
T: 01749 683381
E: james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk
A new grant intended to help land owners and managers plan new woodland in England is open for applications.
The Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG) will contribute towards the costs of gathering and analysing information to ensure proposals take account of potential impacts on landscape, water, and the historic environment. It will also help support stakeholder engagement and understanding.
From my experience of planting schemes, the planning phase can often involve significant expense, so aid at this early stage is welcome. The forestry sector’s ambition for more woodland in England will be helped by this scheme, making it easier to create woodland and secure funding from investors.
Applications will be considered as they are submitted and it makes sense to apply as early as possible while the limited funds are still available.
The grant is part of the new £1 million Forestry Innovation Fund and £200,000 has been allocated for the WCPG fund this year. The funding and administration of the grant is separate from the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and the deadline for applications is February 15, allowing time following allocation of a grant for the plan to be completed before March 31, when funding for this pilot scheme closes.
The plan should describe and address the planting scheme’s impacts through careful design. Land managers need to ensure their proposals take account of any impacts on forestry and the natural environment, landscape, water and the historic environment.
The Standard Payment is £150 per hectare up to a maximum of £30,000. It covers the collection and analysis of all essential information to create an informed plan. Proposals need to meet some basic criteria, covering at least 30 hectares and showing potential to benefit the forestry sector in the long-term through the provision of timber or other wood products.
However, not many people interested in taking advantage of a grant will want to take 30 hectares of land out of agricultural production.
A plot of 30 hectares or more can have a major visual impact on the landscape which may raise concerns at the planning stage. Also, planting woodland is a very long-term commitment requiring a significant capital outlay with a limited financial return that will not come to fruition for many years.
It will very often be the grandchildren’s generation who will be the first to see a sensible return. In addition, in most instances planting woodland on all but the worst agricultural land will have a significant detrimental impact on its capital value.
Therefore I think relatively few landowners may be interested in this grant scheme but further information, including details on eligibility and how to apply, can be found on Forestry Commission England’s website at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/england-fif
James Stephen MRICS FAAV
Partner
Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, Wells
T: 01749 683381
E: james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk
