Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme (FFIS)

Round 2 of this scheme has now been launched and details are available via the defra website. Any enquiries relating to the scheme should be submitted directly to Defra, Heartwoods has no involvement with the administration of this.  However, if you would like assistance with your application then please do contact us as we may be able to assist you with your plans.

The application form for Round 2 will be available to download from May 22^nd 2012. The round will close at 5:00pm on Tuesday July 17^th2012.  Applications received after this date will not be processed.

Please note that under no circumstances will we accept applications submitted on Round 1 application forms.

The FFIS is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and is a scheme of support developed to help farming, forestry and horticultural businesses in England to become more efficient at using resources.

This scheme aims to help make your business more profitable and resilient whilst reducing the impact of farming on the environment.

There is £20m available under FFIS until December 2013. The grants are for capital items and the grant rate available is up to 40% in non upland areas, and up to 50% in upland areas and the maximum grant allowable per project is £25,000. The minimum grant is £2,500.

Forestry Support is available under the scheme for projects which improve the economic value of forests through the efficiencies of improved processing and adding value.

Eligible items include timber processors, forwarders, forestry trailers, tractors and mounted forestry grabs. Those eligible to apply are farmers, foresters, contractors and horticulturalists across England.

For more information please go to:

http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/funding-sources/farm-and-forestry-improvement-scheme

or contact the West Midlands RDPE Team on 01905 768854 or email: rdpedeliverywestmidlands@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG)

High gas and oil prices, the economy and mounting concerns about climate change, have stoked demand for logs, woodchips and wood pellets. In response to rising demand for locally grown wood-fuel, The Forestry Commission has launched the Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) under the England Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS). There is £10 million available across England through the Rural Development Programme for England and is available until 2013.

This new grant supports the production of woodfuel and timber through capital grants of 60% for road and track access to support the extraction of timber. The grant can also fund management planning work associated with managing harvesting contracts. The grant is targeted at the estimated 50% under-managed woodlands in England.

In order to be eligible for the grant, the woodland must have an approved management plan in place and the level of grant support will be assessed against the proposed volume of timber to be extracted.

In the West Midlands, Heartwoods will assist any woodland owners who wish to find out more about the grant through a free advisory visit to assess their woodlands for suitability for the grant and advise woodland owners on what to do if they want to move forward with an application. Over the last two years the Heartwoods project has advised over 300 woodland owners and wood-fuel businesses supporting over £1,000,000 of new investment in the industry.

For more information you can visit the Forestry Commission website, download a leaflet (pdf) or contact a member of the Heartwoods team :- Office  01952 435860 or e-mail info@heartwoods.co.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.

Renewable Heat Incentive

The Renewable heat incentive is a Government scheme that provides financial support to non-domestic renewable heat generators. Eligiable technologies include biomass (woodfuel) boilers.

This ensures that the use of renewable heat is more commercially attractive than fossil fuels by providing a continuous income stream to teh boiler owner over a twenty year period.

This support will help develop the use of woodfuel, in appropriate locations, as a common source of heating – just as it is in many other European countries.

For more information on this grant click here

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 available. 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.

WoodWorks

If you are a woodland owner, forestry manager, farmer with woodland, or a gamekeeper with woodland responsibilities you may 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.  Click here to see what courses the Small Woods Association are offering.

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