Rural Payments and Services

This is available for the felling of Phytophthora ramorum infected larch or inaccessible / uneconomic larch on Scottish offshore islands where it can be shown, to Forestry Commission Scotland's reasonable satisfaction, that removal would not otherwise be feasible.

Support is available where a qualified agent can demonstrate to Forestry Commission Scotland's reasonable satisfaction that the costs associated with operating on an offshore island (which are in excess of £1200/ha of infected land) prevent the removal of coupes containing infected larch from being undertaken.

Or, for exceptional cases, where it can be shown removal would not be feasible within the deadline required by the Statutory Plant Health Notice.

Grant is not available for other tree or shrub species unless felling of such material is absolutely necessary. This allows for the safe clearance of the larch within the Statutory Plant Health Notice area.

Additional trees and shrubs removed for operational or economic reasons will not be eligible for support.

Heterobasidium annosum (formerly Fomes annosus) is a serious and persistent threat to British woodlands, particularly to coniferous stands. Larch stumps pose one of the highest risks of infection.

Therefore we strongly recommend that stump treatment is undertaken on all larch felling sites.

This is particularly important if it is intended to replant with other conifers.

Current Forest Research guidance is available for risk-based stump treatment.

We will only approve your application if you agree to replant any area of woodland you clear.

Please ensure you abide by conditions set out in the Forestry Grant Scheme claim form and guidance.

Phytophthora ramorum in Scotland