Rural Payments and Services

Before you apply for grants under the Forestry Grant Scheme, please read the option guidance to ensure that your application meets the eligibility rules for the options you are applying for and to ensure that you submit all required documents.

Applications for the Forestry Grant Scheme are online only and you first need to be registered with Rural Payments and Services.

Important Notes: You must not have undertaken any works you are proposing within your FGS application prior to applying for a grant and you must not commence works until you have received an approved contract.

On 1 October, the Forestry Grant Scheme was updated to align with the new UK Forestry standard (2023). Any applications previously submitted do not require further changes.

More information on how Scottish Forestry will be managing existing applications through the change can be found at Scottish Forestry UK Forestry Standard. Additional information can also be found on the Woodland Creation and Woodland Improvement Grant FGS pages.

All applications for FGS submitted from 1 April 2024 must adhere to Scottish Government’s approach to the Fair Work First (FWF) Conditionality as explained in their online guidance.

If you are successful in being awarded a contract for FGS funding, it is a condition of the funding contract that you, as the contract beneficiary comply with the FWF guidance during the period of the contract’s undertakings and that all others involved in the planning, undertaking and maintaining of the activities, contained in the agreed contract, must also comply with the FWF guidance during the period they are contracted to plan, undertake and maintain the works on your (or your mandated companies) behalf.

You and all those planning, undertaking and maintaining the activities agreed in this contract must retain all the relevant evidence (updating as necessary) that confirms you either meet the FWF guidance eligibility or provides you with a limited exception from the FWF guidance eligibility.

Full scheme guidance

Woodland Creation – to get information about:

• grant support
• target areas
• general eligibility criteria
  - use of woodland strategies
  - suitability of tree species
  - woodland operational plan
  - mapping standards
  - landlords consent
• supporting information required with your application
• large scheme area thresholds
• individual option details

The nine options in this category:

• Conifer
• Diverse Conifer
• Broadleaves
• Native Scots Pine
• Native Upland Birch
• Native Broadleaves
• Native Low Density
• Small or Farm Woodland
• Northern and Western Isles

Agroforestry – the two options in this category support creation of agroforestry systems on agricultural pasture or arable land. This will allow for an integrated approach to land management where there is a mix of trees on grazing or arable land.

Each option relates to how many trees you want to plant:

• 300-400 trees per hectare
• 150-200 trees per hectare

Woodland Improvement Grant – to get information about grant support, general eligibility criteria and individual option details.

There are five options in this category. These aim to support forest management, activity to enhance the environment and the public’s enjoyment of existing woodlands.

• Planning: this covers
  - Long Term Forest Plan
  - Forest Plan Renewal
  - Woodlands In and Around Towns (WIAT) Urban Woodland Management Plan
  - Woodland Grazing Plan
  - Deer Management Plan
• Habitats and Species
• Restructuring Regeneration
• Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS)
• Woodlands In and Around Towns (WIAT)

Sustainable Management of Forests – to get information about grant support, general eligibility criteria and individual option details.

There are nine options in this category. These aim to support the management of existing forests and woodlands with a high environmental value.

• Native Woodlands
• Livestock Exclusion
• Woodland Grazing
• Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS)
• Public Access WIAT
• Public Access Rural Woods
• Species Conservation: this option has three sub-options
  - Grey Squirrel Control
  - Predator Control for Capercaillie and Black Grouse
  - Reducing Deer Impact
  

Tree Health – supports the protection of woodland from the impacts of non-routine tree pests or diseases.

Activity supported includes:

• the provision of competent agents' services
• tree removal of relevant tree or host species
• replacement planting

Harvesting and Processing – this category supports the development of the small-scale premium softwood and hardwood processing sector.

Funding can provide support for equipment to increase harvesting in small, undermanaged woods.

Forest Infrastructure – this category supports forest access in small-scale or undermanaged woodlands.

Forestry Co-operation – this category supports key ‘landscape scale’ projects involving a number of landowners.

If you have any questions about this scheme, please get in touch with Scottish Forestry.

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