Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)

RDPE is a national rural development funding programme funded jointly by Defra and the European Union. In the West Midlands £55 million is managed by Advantage West Midlands the Regional Development Agency. In addition there is £8m managed by the Forestry Commission under the England Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) – see forestry.gov.uk and £250m managed by Natural England under the Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ESS).

RDPE provides support for land management and economic development schemes for land based industries
You must be in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire and rural based.
Businesses, co-operatives, charities or community groups can apply. Some public sector organisations may also be eligible.

What is available to woodland / forestry owners and businesses?

Grants for businesses;

Woodland Enterprise Grant (WEG)
Small capital only grants up to 40% eligible costs with minimum grant of £2500 and a maximum grant of £62,500.
Funding is available for post harvest processing towards capital cost of machinery and equipment for adding value to wood products eg woodfuel:-

• Machinery and equipment for extracting and processing, storing and distributing woodfuel (chips, logs, kindling)
• Processing and marketing woodfuels
• Storage of woodfuel

RE:Think Energy
Re:think Energy offers grants towards the capital cost of installation of renewable energy systems. Business energy assessments and, if necessary, feasibility studies are provided free to establish which, if any, technologies are appropriate for each business. If a good case can be made for a renewable energy  installation, businesses may be invited to apply for a capital grant. For more information contact Rachel Strivens on 01743 252599.

WoodWorks
If you are a woodland owner, forestry manager, farmer with woodland, or a gamekeeper with woodland responsibilities you may well be eligible for the subsidised training opportunities through the Woodworks West Midlands project.   You must be either employed or self-employed in any of the above categories and working in the West Midlands. Training courses include hedge laying, coppicing, social forestry, Ignite wood fuel  courses, chainsaw courses, spray legislation and use, tractor driving, horse logging, chipping, mobile band saw stump grinding , forest machinery and first aid. However if your business has a specific need discuss it with us because it may well be that we can fulfil your training needs.

The project runs across the region through the project partners Walford and North Shropshire College and covers Shropshire and Herefordshire.   Warwickshire College is covering Warwickshire and Worcestershire , South Staffordshire College is covering Staffordshire and The Small Woods Association is delivering specialist coppice management and development programs.

For further information please contact Cindy Joule on 01939 262154 or l.joule@wnsc.ac.uk

England Woodland Grant Scheme
The England Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) is the Forestry Commission’s main scheme for providing financial support. Its primary objectives are to create and manage woodlands and to sustain and increase the delivery of public benefits. EWGS is supported via the Rural Development Programme for England. Work carried out with grant support must meet the criteria set out in The UK Forestry Standard,the chief guide to the practice of sustainable forestry.

EWGS supports the creation of new woodlands by its Woodland Creation Grant, Additional Contributions and Farm Woodland Payments. The sustainable management of existing woodlands is supported through Woodland Regeneration Grant, Woodland Improvement Grant,Woodland Planning/Assessment Grants and Woodland Management Grant. The Grants have various eligibility criteria which are available online at www.forestry.gov.uk/england or phone 01905 532200 for more information. Both applicants and their land must be registered before applying for any grants.