Contracts – period of undertakings
Date published: 4 August, 2015
Introduction
When your Forestry Grant Scheme contract expires is dependent upon the approved options in your contract.
You will be bound by the conditions of the contract from the date of approval until the required number of years after the date of approval, as shown in the table below.
| Option | Period of grant payment | Period of contract |
| Woodland Creation – Conifer | Initial planting + five years of maintenance | 20 years after contract approval |
| Woodland Creation – Diverse Conifer | Initial planting + five years of maintenance | 20 years after contract approval |
| Woodland Creation – Broadleaves | Initial planting + five years of maintenance | 20 years after contract approval |
| Woodland Creation – Native Scots Pine | Initial planting + five years of maintenance | 20 years after contract approval |
| Woodland Creation – Native Upland Birch | Initial planting + five years of maintenance | 20 years after contract approval |
| Woodland Creation – Native Broadleaves | Initial planting + five years of maintenance | 20 years after contract approval |
| Woodland Creation – Native Low-density Broadleaves | Initial planting + five years of maintenance | 20 years after contract approval |
| Woodland Creation – Small or Farm Woodlands | Initial planting + five years of maintenance | 20 years after contract approval |
| Woodland Creation – Native Broadleaves in Northern and Western Isles | Initial planting + five years of maintenance | 20 years after contract approval |
| Agroforestry | Initial planting + five years of maintenance | 20 years after initial planting payment |
| Woodland Improvement Grant – Habitats and Species | Payment of agreed capital items | Six years after the final capital item payment |
| Woodland Improvement Grant – Natural Regeneration | Payment of agreed capital items | Six years after the final capital item payment |
| Woodland Improvement Grant – Low Impact Silvicultural Systems | Payment of agreed capital items | Six years after the final capital item payment |
| Woodland Improvement Grant – Woods In and Around Towns | Payment of agreed capital items | Six years after the final capital item payment |
| Woodland Improvement Grant – Long-term Forest Plan | Payment of agreed capital items | One year after the final capital item payment |
| Woodland Improvement Grant – Forest Plan Renewal | Payment of agreed capital items | One year after the final capital item payment |
| Woodland Improvement Grant – Woodland Grazing Management Plan | Payment of agreed capital items | One year after the final capital item payment |
| Woodland Improvement Grant – Woods In and Around Towns – Urban Woodland Management Plan | Payment of agreed capital items | One year after the final capital item payment |
| Woodland Improvement Grant – Deer Management Plan | Payment of agreed capital items | One year after the final capital item payment |
| Woodland Improvement Grant – Restructuring Regeneration | Payment of agreed capital items | 10 years after the final capital item payment |
| Sustainable Management of Forests – Low Impact Silvicultural Systems | Payments made annually for a period of five years | One year after final annual payment |
| Sustainable Management of Forests – Native Woodlands | Payments made annually for a period of five years | One year after final annual payment |
| Sustainable Management of Forests – Livestock Exclusion | Payments made annually for a period of five years | One year after final annual payment |
| Sustainable Management of Forests – Woodland Grazing | Payments made annually for a period of five years | One year after final annual payment |
| Sustainable Management of Forests – Public Access – Rural Woods | Payments made annually for a period of five years | One year after final annual payment |
| Sustainable Management of Forests – Public Access – Woods In and Around Towns | Payments made annually for a period of five years | One year after final annual payment |
| Sustainable Management of Forests – Grey Squirrel Control | Payments made annually for a period of five years | One year after final annual payment |
| Sustainable Management of Forests – Predator Control for Capercaillie and Black Grouse | Payments made annually for a period of five years | One year after final annual payment |
| Sustainable Management of Forests – Reducing Deer Impact | Payments made annually for a period of five years | One year after final annual payment |
| Harvesting and Processing | Agreed capital items | Six years after final payment |
| Forest Infrastructure | Agreed capital items | Six years after final payment |
| Forestry Co-operation | Agreed capital items | One year after final payment |
Withdrawing from a contract
If you want to withdraw from a Forestry Grant Scheme contract, you should first contact your local conservancy office.
You may be required to repay any grants that you have already received, plus interest, unless you meet the force majeure or exceptional circumstances criteria.
Force majeure or exceptional circumstances
If you find you are no longer able to meet the conditions of your Forestry Grant Scheme contract, you should write to your local conservancy office as soon as possible.
You must explain the reason why and supply any relevant evidence. You may have to pay back some or all of the payments we have made to you, plus interest. You may also have to pay a penalty.
However, we would not seek recovery where you can provide evidence that the reason for the failure meets the strict conditions of force majeure or exceptional circumstances.
The criteria for this are set out in European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1306/2013 – Article 2.2 – and could be one of the following:
- the death of the beneficiary
- long-term professional incapacity of the beneficiary
- a severe natural disaster gravely affecting the holding
- an epizootic or plant disease affecting part or all of the beneficiary's livestock or crops
- expropriation of all or a large part of the holding if that expropriation could not have been anticipated on the day of lodging the application
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