Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this option is to create broadleaved woodlands on land that is suitable for sawn and prime timber and that is accessible for timber transport (including links to suitable public roads).

You must meet all eligibility criteria listed on the Woodland Creation page and:

• you must comply with the UK Forestry Standard
• the minimum planting width is 15 metres
• the minimum block size is two hectares in any one year
• your application must meet the species composition criteria in the table below

Composition of broadleaved woodland
Item	Minimum (per cent)	Maximum (per cent)	Minimum stocking density on the planted area at year five (per hectare)
Broadleaves suitable for timber production [1 & 4]	75	90	Oak and beech: 3,100 Sycamore, birch, wild cherry, sweet chestnut. poplar and aspen: 2,500
Native broadleaves or shrubs [2]	5	10	1,100
Designed open ground [3]	0	10	n/a
[1] Please note that in order to comply with the UK Forestry Standard no more than 65 per cent is permitted for a single species. Intimate mixtures are allowed but the choice of species must meet the requirements of species selection. [2] Up to 20 per cent of the native broadleaves can be native woody shrubs. [3] You must refer to the designed open ground guidance on the general Woodland Creation page to see how designed open ground will apply to your application. For example additional open ground, in excess of the specified percentage, may be permissible depending on the specifics of the site, but will not be eligible for grant support. [4] Up to 20 per cent of the ‘broadleaves’ species area can be Norway Maple, planted in intimate groups at 2,500. The proposed planting area should be outside Grey Squirrel Control Areas.

Please note that in order to achieve 100 per cent from the table above you will not be able to select all minimum or all of the maximum values.

For applications being considered against UKFS 2017 no more than 75 per cent is permitted for a single species. If you are unsure which UKFS edition your application will be assessed against, please refer to the reference table for managing the UKFS change.

Species selection

As an initial first step in determining whether or not the site is climatically suitable, you should view the Forestry Grant Scheme Climatic Site Suitability folder on the Scottish Forestry Map Viewer page.

Any applications that are not shown as being climatically suitable will only be considered if you can clearly demonstrate that the site is suitable for the chosen species of trees, for example where there is localised shelter in an otherwise exposed location.

As per the eligibility criteria of the woodland creation general guidance the tree species must be suitable or very suitable to the site and have the capacity to achieve a minimum average yield class 6 across the application area.

The use of improved planting material, selected for improved form and vigour, is appropriate for the timber production areas under this option. Improved planting material can be used where ESC shows a species to be suitable or very suitable and the Future Trees Trust data sheets also show the improved planting material is suitable or highly suitable for the area.

For all native trees planted within this option, you must provide a suppliers document when submitting an initial planting claim (see example document below). A template is also provided.

The stocking densities must meet the requirements of the choice of species. Intimate mixtures are allowable where the stocking densities are the same and therefore it is not possible to intimately mix species of varying stocking densities. The use of blocking mixtures may be acceptable.

Each option within your application must meet the threshold score to be considered for approval. In achieving the threshold score your option must score against each criterion except for additional benefit. The scores will then be used as the basis for allocating funding on a competitive basis through the Forestry Grant Scheme clearing process.

Delivery of option benefits

1 POINT – for applications that meet the eligibility criteria but do not deliver any of the benefits below.

3 POINTS – for applications that provide one or more of the following in addition to meeting the eligibility requirements:

• applications that clearly support the aims of National Parks and National Scenic Areas

Or

• applications that demonstrate further diversification by integrating at least one other appropriate Woodland Creation option (see explanation below) within the scheme boundary (but not Sitka spruce)

Or

• applications that enhance farmed landscapes or help to diversify farm woodland (Refer to Scottish Forestry guidance – The Creation of Small Woodlands on Farms)

Example for 3 points The total area of the other options must equate to at least 10 per cent of the area of the main Broadleaved option or the minimum block size for the other option, whichever is the greater. 15 hectares Broadleaves x 10 per cent = 1.5 hectares Therefore, a minimum of 1.5 hectares, or the minimum eligible block size for the option, must be associated with other suitable Woodland Creation options. 15 hectares Broadleaves; 2.0 hectares (minimum block size) Diverse Conifer Total application = 17.0 hectares

5 POINTS – For applications that meet one of the three-point criteria above and the criteria below:

• applications within one of the Woodlands for Water priority areas, identified as likely to provide multiple benefits for natural flood management and water quality. Select the Forestry Grant Target and Eligibility Areas folder on the Scottish Forestry Map Viewer to confirm your application meets this requirement

Scale of delivery

1 POINT – applications between 2 hectares and 4.99 hectares.

3 POINTS – applications between 5 hectares and 9.99 hectares.

5 POINTS – applications above 10 hectares.

Delivering better quality

1 POINT – for applications that meet the minimum diversity eligibility criteria for this option, which is:

• 5 per cent native broadleaves and 10 per cent secondary broadleaf species suitable for timber production

3 POINTS – for applications that deliver more than the minimum diversity eligibility criteria for this option, which is:

• 10 per cent native broadleaves and 10 per cent secondary broadleaf species suitable for timber production

Or

• 5 per cent native broadleaves and 15 per cent secondary broadleaf species suitable for timber production

5 POINTS – for applications that deliver the maximum diversity eligibility criteria for this option, which is:

• 10 per cent native broadleaves and 15 per cent secondary broadleaf species suitable for timber production

Delivery of good practice

1 POINT – for applications which meet the minimum relevant industry standards, but do not deliver any of the benefits detailed below.

3 POINTS – for applications that meet one of the criteria detailed below:

• applications which demonstrate that you have liaised with consultees, communities and neighbours, prior to the scheme being submitted and addressed, where possible, any points they may have raised

5 POINTS – for applications that meet one of the criteria detailed below:

• applications which clearly demonstrate that you have thoroughly assessed the site conditions and propose the most appropriate management techniques to minimise the impacts to the environment. This must be beyond what you might be compelled to do within the conditions of the contract or recognised as an industry standard practice

Or

• applications which are community owned, led, or supported and clearly demonstrate the delivery of significant benefits to the local community such as designed landscape

Value for money

Applications where the cost of ancillary capital eligible supporting works, for example: fencing, gates, tree shelters, bracken control, are:

1 POINT– more than 30 per cent of the total capital cost for initial planting.

6 POINTS – less than 30 per cent of the total capital cost for initial planting.

10 POINTS – less than 10 per cent of the total capital cost for initial planting.

Example for 10 points Core capital item: Initial planting 15 hectares Broadleaves = £43,200. Ancillary capital items: Deer Fence: 500 metres x £6.80 = £3,400 Deer Gate: 1 x £172 = £172 Ancillary costs as a percentage of the total costs of initial planting: £3,572 ÷ £43,200 = 8%.

Supplementary point – additional benefit

1 POINT – will be awarded, as an additional point, where:

• applications are in an area identified as ‘preferred’ within the relevant Forestry and Woodland Strategy (or equivalent)

Section	Change
Stocking Densities	Specific threshold score removed.
Species selection	Addition of text referencing improved planting material
Eligibility Criteria	Permitted single species percentage changed from 75 to 65

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