The Forestry Commission’s English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS)
This is a suite of grants that are available for the management and planting of woodland. Some are target based for specific important and rare species (e.g. Small-leaved Lime) or important areas (e.g. Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and others are more general and apply throughout the South East Region. Details of the EWGS can be found on the Forestry Commission England website English Woodland Grant Scheme.
Grant rates changed in 2009 giving financial improvements to grants including Woodland Imrovement Grant (WIG) and Woodland Planning Grant (WPG). The ewgs grants offer :
· improved standard costs, used to calculate WIG, on average UP BY 20%;
· 80% WIG’s in priority areas to improve management access to your wood/s;
· enhanced planning grants to encourage owners to employ a woodland manager to evaluate their woodland;
· up to £3,800 per ha capital grant PLUS annual payments for Farm Woodland and from the Single Payment Scheme for creating new woods near towns and on the Isle of Wight.
For details of the South East Regional targeted grants please refer to 80% WIG Targeted grants for woodland biodiversity.
A regional prospectus has been produced which sets out the budget for the year for each grant type. As each grant has a limited funding level within the region’s budget there is also a Regional Grant Availability page that shows the current status and funds remaining for each grant type.
