Grants And Funding
There are a large number of different sources of funding available for environmental and woodland project. The following pages outline the principle sources of funding from Forestry Commission and DEFRA, plus links to further information about other sources of funding which may be suitable for your project.
England Woodland Grant Scheme.
The English Woodland Grant Scheme is the Forestry Commission’s grant scheme. It supports the establishment of new woodlands and the management of existing woodlands. The following grants are available through the scheme:
- Woodland planning grant; preparation of plans that both assist with management of the woodland and meet the UK Woodland Assurance Standard
- Woodland assessment grant; gathering detailed and specialist information to improve management decisions
- Woodland regeneration grant; supporting desirable change in woodland composition through natural regeneration and restocking after felling
- Woodland creation grant; encouraging the creation of new woodlands where they deliver the greatest public benefits, including annual Farm Woodland Payments to compensate for agricultural income forgone
- Woodland management grant; contribution to additional costs of providing and sustaining higher quality public benefits from existing woodlands
- Woodland improvement grant; work in woodlands to create, enhance and sustain public benefits.
The new grant scheme was launched in July, 2005. For full details of grant rates, application forms and deadlines, visit the Forestry Commission website.
Environmental Stewardship
Entry Level Stewardship is a whole farm scheme whereby land managers select management options with an associated points score. Once enough points have been gained for a holding, a flat rate grant of £30/ha will be paid. Options include managing hedges, protecting trees and woods and buffering important wildlife features.
Higher level stewardship is designed to build on your ELS options to achieve wider environmental benefits. There are priority statements that outline which options and habitats are important in particular areas. As part of the application process, a farm environmental plan will need to be completed.
Options can be either land management (annual payments) or for capital items such as fences and ponds. Full details on grants and the application process can be found in the ES Guidance Handbooks which can be ordered from the Rural Development Services or down loaded from the DEFRA website (www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/es/default.htm)
Locally, advice can also be obtained from Lancashire Rural Futures
Sources of funding:
The following list includes some of the grant schemes which are available for environmental project:
- Awards for All
- Environments for All
- Viridor Credits
- Biffawards
- Parks for People
- Ethnic Minorities Award Scheme
- The Community Fund
The following organisation provide directories of grant funders and can assist you with your search for funding:
