In July, Wales’s Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, confirmed that Better Woodlands for Wales (BWW), the woodland grant scheme delivered by Forestry Commission Wales, will close with effect from 1 January 2011. Woodland grants will be integrated into Glastir, the Welsh Assembly Government’s new sustainable land management scheme from 1 January 2013.
So what does this change mean for existing BWW schemes and for woodland owners who may be planning to apply to BWW in the next few months?
Patrick Green, Forestry Commission Wales’s Operations Manager, explains, “As BWW contracts are for five years, we need to manage a planned closure of the scheme to avoid a significant spend beyond the end of the Rural Development Plan in 2013.
“As a result, new applications to BWW will not be accepted after 17 November 2010 and any existing or new applications will be given until 31 December 2010 to reach Foundation Plan approval stage.
“All BWW contracts must then be approved by 31 December 2011.
“After that date, Forestry Commission Wales will continue to manage BWW as a legacy scheme until approved contracts expire and staff will continue to issue felling licences.”
Glastir is the Welsh Assemby Government’s new sustainable land management scheme for Wales. It replaces previous land management schemes including Tir Gofal, Tir Cynnal, Tir Mynydd and the Organic Farming Scheme/Organic Farming Conversion Scheme.
Patrick said, “The development of Glastir as a single integrated land use scheme should make it easier for all landowners to access grant support through a single application.
“Management grants will be accessible both to landowners who only have woodland and to farmers with woodland.”
Before the new Glastir woodland grants are launched, Forestry Commission Wales will work with Welsh Assembly Government staff to ensure that information and training are given to the forest and woodland sector.
In the meantime, Forestry Commission Wales is developing Glastir woodland creation grants which will be available from autumn 2010. It will deliver these new grants on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government from Autumn 2010 until 1 January 2013 when they transfer to the Assembly Government.
Patrick added, “Our research showed that the majority of the BWW scheme funding has gone into existing woodland management, not into creating new woodlands or managing additional areas that have not historically been in any grant scheme.
“The development of the new Glastir woodland creation grants offers us a signficant opportunity to continue to deliver the Assembly Government’s Woodlands for Wales strategy.”
Information on the new Glastir woodland creation grants will be available later this year on www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5z8jcr
