Grants
and Licences
Woodlands in the UK are protected by the Forestry Act 1986 which
requires anyone wishing to fell trees to have a licence from the
Forestry Commission. A felling licence is normally issued with
conditions which will require you to replant any trees felled or to
ensure that the woodland is able to regenerate itself. It is a very
simple and effective mechanism to ensure that all woodlands stay as
woodlands.
You don’t need one for cutting
small quantities of wood, and you are allowed to fell up to 5 cubic
metres (5 tonnes) in any 3 month period. Over a year you can fell up
to 20 cubic metres for your own use. This is the same as a large
lorry load, so for routine maintenance or for cutting a bit of
firewood you will not have to worry. However the volume allowed goes
down to just 2 cubic meters per quarter if you are selling it.
When you apply for the licence
you need to say how many trees you want to fell and their volume.
You will need to mark them with paint or a blaze so that the
Forestry Commission Officer can see them.
Felling Licences can now be
downloaded from the Forestry Commission website and you will need a
map to go with it.
Things may be more complicated
if your wood is within a National Park as the Park Authority will
also want to know what your intentions are.
By the way the legal
definition of a “tree” is any tree or shrub which has a diameter of
more than 8cm when measured at a point 1.5 metres from the ground.
Small than 8cm and you can cut as many as you like, but beware 7cm
is really not very big.
If you are not sure what to
do, phone the local Forestry Commission Office and ask to speak to
the Private Woodlands Officer for your area. She/he will be able to
come out to your wood to give advice. (Forestry Commission Exeter
01626 890666)
If you are planning
regular woodland management over several years you will find it much
simpler to apply to the Forestry Commission for a “Woodland Grant
Scheme” which last for 5 years and may even pay you some grant aid.
The English Woodland Grant Scheme provides financial
support for regeneration, replanting, conservation work and the
provision of public access. Follow the links on
www.forestry.gov.uk and you can download the forms. Warning!
They are complicated but providing you are not in a rush they are
reasonably easy to follow.
The Welsh Assembly Government have produced their own package
of grant aid measures called ‘Better Woods for Wales’ which
provides grants for a wide range of management options. These
are more generous than their English equivalent but they do
generate quite a lot of paperwork.
Again follow the
links from
www.forestry.gov.uk . Free advice is available in Wales, which
has a network of “Coed Cymru” advisers who specialise in helping
farmers and small woodland owners. Visit
www.coedcymru.org.uk
Before you can apply for Forestry
Commission grants you will need to register your woodland with the Rural
Payments Agency.
Remember: Only apply for a
grant if the grant conditions meet your own objectives. Never apply
for grants simply because the money is there, you will simply end up
doing the agencies job for them.
There are lots of laws to
protect wildlife and landscapes in the UK and many regulations on
rights of way. While it is a good idea to be well informed on
countryside law, most of the regulations will actually help you to
look after your wood rather than cause you any hindrance.
If you are interested in more
information, “Countryside Law” by Jones, Palmer and Sydenham is an
excellent overview for the general reader. Most landowners join up
to the CLA, NFU, FTA or Small Woods Association for legal updates
and support.
Country Land and
Business Association
www.cla.org.uk
National Farmers
Union
www.nfu.org.uk
The
Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor) support all UK
timber producers. Members receive an excellent range of support
services including market and legal updates.
www.confor.org.uk
Small Woods
Association
www.smallwoods.org.uk
●
A woodland of your own ●
Managing for conservation ●
●
Woodland grants and permissions ●
Woodland taxation ●
● Woodland insurance ●
Buying a wood ● |
