Rural Payments and Services

This is an old version of the page

Date published: 24 March, 2016

Date superseded: 10 June, 2016

To see recent changes to this guidance, check the bottom of the page.

Table of Contents

• Aim
• Eligibility criteria
• Scoring criteria
• Recent changes
• Previous versions
• Download guidance

To create conifer woodlands on land that is suitable for timber production and that is accessible for timber transport (including links to suitable public roads).

This option is aimed at planting conifer species other than Sitka spruce.

You must meet all eligibility criteria listed in 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.
• you must use at least two conifer species, e.g. Scots pine, Douglas fir, Norway spruce and larch
• your application must meet the species composition criteria in the table below

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.

Species selection

As an initial first step in determining whether or not the site is climatically suitable, you should view the Forestry Grant Scheme (2014–2020) Site Suitability folder on the Forestry Commission Scotland 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 the following minimum average yield classes across the application area:

• yield class 8 for Scots pine and larch
• yield class 12 for Norway spruce, Douglas fir, western red cedar and other conifer species

For all native Scots pine 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.

As well as entering the quantity of trees and the Master Certificate Number on the supplier's document, you should also include the region of provenance, demonstrating that the trees are suitable for the site. Refer to Forestry Commission Scotland guidance – Seed sources and planting native trees and shrubs in Scotland.

See Forestry Commission Marketing and Supplying Forest Reproductive Materials for further information.

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 will improve an existing afforested landscape by helping to resolve recognised design deficiencies (usually related to the design principles of relative scale and shape)

Or

• applications that help to diversify farm woodland (refer to the Forestry Commission Scotland booklet – The creation of small woodlands on farms)

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)

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

• applications which are significant in scale, that consider the impact of timber transport on public highways and are supported by an ‘agreed route’ for timber transport

Or

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

Or

• applications within one of the priority areas identified in the FCS-SEPA opportunity mapping projects as likely to provide multiple benefits for natural flood management and water quality. Select the Forestry Grant Scheme (2014–2020) Target Areas folder on the Forestry Commission Scotland Map Viewer to confirm your application meets this requirement

Scale of delivery

1 POINT – for applications between 2 hectares and 4.99 hectares.

3 POINTS – for applications between 5 hectares and 19.99 hectares.

5 POINTS – for applications above 20 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 other conifer species

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 other conifer species

Or

• 5 per cent native broadleaves and 25 per cent other conifer species

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

• 10 per cent native broadleaves and 40 per cent other conifer species

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 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 eligible capital supporting works, for example fencing, gates, tree shelters, bracken control, are:

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

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

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

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)

Previous versions of this page

Click 'Download this page' to create a printable version of this guidance you can save or print out.