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Richard Till
Divisional Director - Perth Office
The SRDP (Scotland Rural development Programme)
represents a major stride to diffuse the “them
and us” debate that has raged between foresters
and farmers for many years. The outcome is both
very welcome and challenging.
Welcome in that the artificial barriers and ring
fencing of funds for similar projects within the
previous agricultural and forestry schemes has
gone; challenging in that there are now many
more potential “customers” for the available
funds, and a totally new approach is required to
gain a share of these grants.
Having overcome the initial hurdle of this
‘online only’ application process to get the
total land holding, including woodland,
registered and all the business details, bank
account, authorisations and passwords etc in the
system, a somewhat similar process to online
banking, the next stage is the application
procedure itself. This needs a totally different
mindset to that required previously and is where
an Authorised Agent will earn his keep.
The concept that has to be embraced involves the
selling of the public benefits that can be
provided such as biodiversity improvements,
landscape enhancement, public access etc. A
quick check against the relevant regional lists
will confirm whether the benefits offered match
the priorities of the local committee. Assuming
this is the case, the applicant is then directed
towards a list of projects that will, always or
at least help, achieve the desired outcomes. The
expectation would then be that a well designed
proposal for one or more of these projects
would, assuming funds were available, stand a
realistic chance of approval.
It is our belief, particularly in the case of
larger maturing woodlands, that a strategic 10
to 20 year management plan will be considered a
prerequisite to obtaining assistance for
operations such as restructuring, enhancement or
maintenance. In theory such a plan should fast
track a whole range of future applications, such
as felling licences, and simplify application
procedures by demonstrating that the proposed
works are integral to a carefully considered
management strategy.
Our advice to owners of woodland in this
category, particularly where such a plan has not
previously been prepared, is that this is
possibly the best way of easing into the new
SRDP process whilst the system beds in and
evolves.
The following case studies illustrate the
funding for the above process and also confirm
the attractive incentives still available to
promote the benefits of new woodland
establishment.
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Case Study One
A 235 hectare predominantly conifer woodland of
average age 25 years, with a resident deer
population, some areas approaching the thinning
and felling stages whilst others require
intervention to improve timber quality.
An application for a long term forest plan
preparation grant, should in this scenario, be
well received and provide grant aid of
£4,175.00, calculated as follows:
First 200 hectares
at £20 per hectare =
£4,000.00
Remaining 35 hectares
at £5 per hectare =
£175.00
It can be anticipated that this could
significantly cover the costs of updating
woodland records, maps etc, consulting with
stakeholders and preparing the framework plan
for future projects over the next 10 years.
Case Study Two
A farm with 25 hectares of improved marginal SDA
grassland surplus to requirement and a desire to
create a future source of timber, improve
habitat diversity and landscape an open
hillside.
An application for new woodland creation, in
this scenario, should have a high chance of
success and in which case the following levels
of support could be awarded:
|
Criteria |
Quantity |
Unit
Grant |
Payment |
|
Deer Fencing Perimeter |
2,850
metres
|
£6.90
per m. |
£19,665 |
Planting Conifer, i.e.
improved Sitka spruce
|
15 Ha. |
£890
per
Ha.
|
£13,350 |
Planting mixed conifer
species
|
5 Ha. |
£980
per
Ha.
|
£4,900 |
|
Planting native riparian
woodland
|
5 Ha. |
£875
per
Ha.
|
£4,375
|
Total Payable upon
completion of planting
|
£42,290
|
A further maintenance payment of £3,115.00 would
be paid annually for 5 years, totalling £15,575,
subject to successful woodland establishment.
Conversion of the land from agriculture to
woodland would also attract the Farmland Premium
– an annual payment of £4,000 for 10 years.
In total, income of £97,865 or £3,915 per
hectare would be received over the 10 year
period of initial establishment. This is clearly
an attractive incentive that could in many cases
more than cover costs and income foregone.
The concept that has to be embraced
involves the selling of the public benefits that
can be provided such as biodiversity
improvements, landscape enhancement, public
access
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