Forestry Commission - West Midlands Grants and Regulations Update for woodland owners, agents and managers 22 September

1. Forestry Commission - West MidlandsGrants and Regulations Updatefor woodland owners, agents and managers22 September 2011 Ewan Calcott Forestry Commission Grants and Regulations Manager

2. Grants & Regulations update • Overview: • Revised Forestry Commission structure – SR10 • Felling Licence data • EWGS budgets • Claims update • EWGS grant suite changes • Grant scheme succession • Land registration • Won’t cover • Phytopthora outbreak

3. New FC structure in England • Headlines: • Grants & Regulations regional teams to merge • England Regions reduced from 9 to 5, effective from April 2012 • Staff assimilation process underway • FC West Midlands: • Merges with North West region • Regional Office – Penrith • Admin Office – Worcester • Subject to confirmation • Forest Enterprise: • Reduces to 6 Districts • Retains Beat offices • Subject to confirmation

4. Felling Licence statistics Felling Licence data 2008 - 2011 Correct as of 12 September 2011

5. EWGS budget update West Midlands - EWGS 2011-2012 to 2014-2015 NB: Table does not include FWP, WGS Legacy, or old schemes

6. EWGS claims update 1 • Applicant claims for 2011 – 2012 • (WRG / WIG / WAG / WPG / WCG 1st Inst) • All EWGS claims to be paid by March 29th 2012 • Therefore, all claims need to be submitted by February 28th • Some claims will need inspecting before payment • Additional time required for those cases • Some work will not be completed by applicants • Please advise FC as soon as possible • Applicant claims for 2012 onwards • Where work is complete we will consider rescheduling to 2011 – 2012 claim year • However, budgets are tight, so only limited opportunity • Annual EWGS payments (WMG, FWP) • WMG / FWP payment round planned for October / November, 2011 • WCG 1st instalment claims not paid by May 15th will miss 2012 FWP payment

7. Other claims update • FWPS / FWS Legacy payments • Legacy claims due to be paid in November, 2011 • Remote Sensing inspections completed in August 2011 • If agreement holders have been asked to provide information, please respond as soon as possible so that November claim window can be met • Claims not paid in November must be paid by May 15, 2012 • EWGS WCG 2nd Instalment claims • 25 WCG cases claimed 1st instalment in 2006 • 2nd instalment is due in November 2011 annual payment run • Claims will be invited using specific claim form • FWP yrs 6-10 included in the claim • claims issued, returned signed and claim set up in GLOS • NB: 2006 WCG agreements did not need SBI or RLR at the time • Will need SBI / RLR now to complete the claim • Cases with FWP should not be affected • Claims not paid in November must be paid by May 15, 2012

8. Help the FC to help You • Significant EWGS funds remaining, but • changes to FC structure and staffing from SR10 review • New staff roles / merged regional structure • For funds to be allocated and claims paid swiftly, FC needs your support: • plan ahead and collect all the information you will need • register ALL the ‘owners’ land on the Rural Land Registry – and keep registered • avoid obviously complicated sites for woodland creation • e.g. archaeology, landscape, near neighbours • application forms are complete; maps are of good quality • use the information tools we provide to help you • LIS / WIG Calculators / Map Requests / Guidance and Operations Notes • don’t wait until EWGS deadlines to submit applications • submit work programmes than can be achieved and within the time scales you propose • don’t expect to be able to reschedule!! • make claims in good time, in the claim year Quality applications lead to quicker processing, speedier agreements and better value for money

9. Other news … • E’applicants using GLOS – User improvements • Can now upload multiple work areas using a new upload tool • Can print off application prior to submission to FC • Can copy existing owner / property details to a new case • Changes to EWGS in 2011 – An overview • WPG guidance, documents and rules • WPG & 10 year felling permission • WRG rules • WIG rules • Woodfuel WIG • WCG 2011/12 and beyond

10. Sustainable forest management (SFM) plans • Sustainable forestry (e.g. UKFS) achieved by sound planning and application • Woodland Management Plans; • collect relevant information • record planning decisions • record progress and completion of work • SFM options for the woodland owner / FC • UKWAS: agreed / approved management plan and 10 year harvesting approval, with fully independent certification • CPET: EWGS WPG management plan and 10 year harvesting, approved by FC, with possible independent verification • 10 year harvesting approval: agreed / approved management plan containing appropriate felling proposals. No independent verification • EWGS - Woodland Planning Grant provides a plan template to fit all these options • Alternatively, harvesting operations without a management plan; • 5 year harvesting approval limit with ‘conservative’ assessment of felling proposals • However, management plans must be kept updated

11. Grants update – WPG 1 • EWGS - Woodland Planning Grant (WPG) • EWGS 2 form - minor changes • Now asks for area (ha) under 10 yrs old • WPG applicant guidance updated • Reprinted in paper and online • Please use the latest version of the form • Submit your plan for approval when written • no need to wait for WPG claim year • obtain permissions earlier • obtain other grant funding earlier • Related to WPG is - • EWGS - Woodland Assessment Grant (WAG) • No changes

12. Grants update – WPG 2 • WPG template updated - changes include • New woodland constraints added - Section 2 • Basic Inventory data collection for Woodfuel - Section 10a • Management planning linked to CPET - Section 10b (Maximum of 100ha) • Management planning linked to10 year felling rules - Section 10b • WPG template guidance also updated for • Revised UKFS (due late 2011) • Revised UKWAS (due late 2011) • Template changes • Aide memoirs for use: • For CPET – part of the compliance audit • For general plan approval – improve plan quality consistently, across England • Update module (Due Oct 2011) • Contains tables in Sections 7 – 10 only • For use when updating programmes of work for grants / permissions

13. Grants update – WPG & 10 year felling • 10 year felling permission - process • FC approved management plan template is agreed – preferably WPG • Management plan is written & submitted – including 10 yrs harvesting (Section 10, table B) • FC review & approve management plan – Claim paid when due • Option1 - • FC set up a separate EWGS felling case in GLOS (consultation etc as required) • New agreement, including 10 Yr felling, is issued • Option 2 - at a later date • Applicant ensures management plan is up to date • using Update Module • FC review & approve plan update • New EWGS felling case set up in GLOS • New agreement, including 10 Yr felling, is issued • With up to date management plans, new cases can be linked at any time • For e’applicants using GLOS • On the new case Property Details tab - link to • UKWAS section – 10 Yr felling • CPET section – 10 Yr felling (Ops Note 22) • Management plan section – 10 Yr felling

14. Grants update – WRG 1 • Changes to WRG grant rates and rules • Introduced 16th May 2011 – but interim! • Reasons for changes: • Simplify grant rates • Phytopthora outbreak - introduction of Phytophthora supplement for affected sites • To fit with current policy / practice • Enable more flexible forestry • productive potential • Species resilience • Political aspects of the changes • Eligibility – applicants must comply with • Broadleaved woodland policy – no net loss of broadleaved woodland area • UKFS and associated guidelines • Ancient and native woodland practice guidelines – species mixture and %ages • Grants must be claimed before 31st March 2014

15. Grants update – WRG 2 Previously native = restocking £1750 Previously non-native = restoration

16. Grants update – WRG 3 • Key principles still apply • UKFS, so no damage • Planting vs natural regeneration • Species: • Up to 20% non-natives (provided not invasive), plus • Up to 20% advancing species or honorary natives • Conifer nurses acceptable, provided they don’t damage • Number of species – at least 2, preferably 3 • Mixture percentages [over 80%, 60-80%, <60%] • Stocking density: • Min 2500 / ha for conifers and quality hardwoods • 1000-2500 timber desirable, quality less imp • 500 – 1000 simply to establish native tree canopy (grant paid pro rata – stems / ha) • Agreed density should match management plan and existing site evidence • FC encourages higher densities • Phytophthora sites: applicants must follow ON24 guidelines

17. Grants update – WIG 1 • National WIG priorities • Biodiversity 50/80 - any ASNW/OSNW or HAP/SAP • Access 50/80 - where demand is demonstrated • Woodfuel WIG – afternoon presentation • West Midlands Region Priority WIG 80s • Access 80 - in Quality of Place areas • Woodland Birds • Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) • Local Wildlife Sites (NI197) • NB: All to be reviewed post new regional structure (2012) • Changes to WIG • road support moved to Woodfuel WIG from August 2011 • WIG BIO Calculator and other guidance updated • NB: Standard Costs reviewed, but no price changes made

18. Grants update – WMG 1 • Current WMG cases • Annual payments due in November 2011 • New cases / renewals – WMG deadlines • applications to be submitted by December 31st • agreements must be approved by May 15 deadline • Year 1 annual payment made October / November • WMG Calculator • introduced April 2011 to aid applicants demonstrate ‘enough work’ • WMG funds • limited, first come, first served

19. Grants update – WCG 1 • Woodland Creation Grant 2011 - 2012 • 5 woodland types for creation • Native, Small Standard, Standard, Community and Special Broadleaves • Additional Contributions still at £2000 / ha, based on • Woodland Opportunity Mapping • Quality of Place • Single Farm Payment remains eligible on land in receipt of SPS in 2008 • Eligibility • National score is 10 points - no closing date • applications first come, first served (while funds remain) • Increased species flexibility & design (A&NWPG) • Increased P yr & FY flexibility • Prospective landowners – can apply, but cannot complete until ownership has changed • Claims • 2012 -13 claims must be submitted by 15th May to ensure FWP payment in autumn • Issues • Farmers proving 25% of income from farming • Multiple applications occasionally have different answers • Applicants requested to prove accounts

20. Woodland Creation adding up?

21. Grant agreement ‘Succession’ • Operations Note 14 • Renewed July 2011 • suite of leaflets to reflect the rules for grant schemes past and present • see July email alert • New ‘Succession’ application form • Ops note includes general guidance on • Forestry and environmental regulations which protect woodlands • importance of professional forestry and legal advice before buying or selling land • New principles: • Must inform FC within 3 months of land sale • Must succeed grant scheme within 12 months of sale • FC will enforce compliance of woodland cover through EIA • Death of an owner • New process being put in place • Uses information already being collected by the RPA Probate Team • Avoids the need for two agencies contacting the family directly for the same information

22. Customer and Land Registration 1 • Customer and Land Registration • Rural Payments Agency (RPA) requires all agri-environmental applications to have • Single Business Identifier (SBI) number • registers an agricultural business in order to receive RDPE linked payments • is 9 digits long • Rural Land Registry (RLR) entry • registers individual land parcels on the RLR map • links registered land parcels to an agri-business SBI • allows RDPE linked payments to be made against land units • PLEASE REGISTER WOODLAND OWNERS’ LAND WITH THE RPA BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR EWGS • FC works with the RPA and applicants to resolve registration issues • FC will not accept applications that are not fully registered (Operations Note 19), but … • continue to assist prospective applicants with registration difficulties • continue to assist the RPA in getting land registered • Currently, only 3 EWGS cases have an RLR issue to resolve

23. Customer and Land Registration 2 Have a valid SBI number for the farm business Make sure the land is registered with Rural Land Register before making an application or claim

24. Questions?