News

21 Feb 2018

Woodland fund on offer for landowners in HS2 corridor

New grant funding will enable landowners with land or woodland within 25 miles of HS2 to establish new, or manage existing, plantations and ancient woodlands.

The £1 milion HS2 Woodland Fund, delivered by the Forestry Commission, will support the creation of a “green corridor of connected wildlife” alongside the railway.

It is open to farmers with land situated on the HS2 line between London and the West Midlands.

Grants will cover a range of capital items, paying 100 percent of the associated standard cost, with a 10-year maintenance payment also available for woodland creation at £200/ha.

There is a grant ceiling of £8,500/ha for capital items for native woodland creation and £4,000/ha for ancient woodland restoration.

Funding opened in January 2018 and is due to close in April 2020, subject to budget availability. Capital items include tree planting, shelters, fencing and badger gates.

Land planted as woodland under the scheme will also retain BPS payments, subject to meeting eligibility requirements.

A separate £5m fund, similarly administered by the Forestry Commission, has also been created to support the restoration of existing ancient woodland sites as well as the creation of new woodlands.

How to apply

Applicants must apply by completing the HS2 Woodland Fund Application Form and submitting it to the scheme administrator hs2woodlandfund@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 

Woodland Creation

• Planting Map - a map to show the location of the different species to be planted.
• Concept Map - a map to show the design of the woodland including the location of proposed capital items, areas of open space, fence lines, map number, and a central OS 6 figure grid reference

Ancient wood restoration

• PAWs restoration work area map - a map to show the area of planned activity including the location of capital items, areas of open space, fence lines, map number, and a central OS 6 figure grid reference
• Condition Assessment form (if it has already been completed prior to application) - a survey to help woodland managers rapidly assess the ecological condition of their woodland.

To find out more visit https://www.forestry.gov.uk/england-hs2