Farmers and landowners who have seen trees affected by the disease Ash dieback have an opportunity to access government funding to help restore their woodland assets.
Funding is currently available through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme for tree health restoration projects. This will help to reduce the spread of the disease and keep woods in good condition.
Successful applicants will be given funding for the supply, planting, weeding and protection of young trees. The trees are required to remain installed and in good condition for five years after the final payment is received.
Funding is between £2,750 and £3,500/ha if restocking with a native species and £1,750 and £2,250 if planting non-native species if they’re restocking woodland where trees have been infected by Chalara fraxinea (Ash dieback) or Phytophthora ramorum (affects many species including larch, sweet chestnut and beech).
Edward Rout, partner in Strutt & Parker's Chelmsford office, said: “Ash dieback is regarded as one of the biggest threats to British woodlands since Dutch Elm disease and is being seen with increasing regularity. There is a window of opportunity to obtain funding to help restore your woodlands.
“The application window for the Woodland Tree Health: Improvement and Restoration Schemes is open all year around. My advice is not to rush, take your time to plan the works and engage your local Forestry Commission advisor at an early stage to ensure you are undertaking the necessary requirements of the scheme.”
Over the next month, landowners also have the opportunity to apply to the Woodland Creation Scheme which pays landowners grants of up to £6,800/ha to plant and protect new trees on bare land.
The Woodland Creation Grant is open to applications until 31 March 2016 for planting contracts in Autumn/Winter 2016.
