GovWire

TE4: Supply and plant tree

Natural England

February 27
11:04 2023

How much will be paid

1.72 per tree.

Payment for creating new woodland

You can be paid up to 6,800 per hectare (ha) if you use this item to create new woodland.

Payments for restocking after a tree health issue

If you are restocking woodland where trees have been infected by Chalara (Hymenoscyphus fraxinea), Phytophthora ramorum, Phytopthora pluvialis, or Sweet chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) you will be paid up to the following amounts.

Restock tree species Ancient woodland site Other
Native 6,000 per ha 4,720 per ha
Non-native 3,000 per ha 3,850 per ha

The native cap applies where over 80% of restocked trees are native tree species. If over 20% of restocked trees are non-native species, the non-native cap applies.

For confirmation on which tree species are classed as native or non-native, please check with your woodland officer.

Woodland officers can also advise on suitable restocking species for specific sites, in line with applicable felling licence conditions, and the UK Forestry Standard UKFS. Additional information is available at Replacing trees after felling due to pests and diseases.

Support is only available if trees are infected by Chalara, Phytophthora ramorum, Phytopthora pluvialis, or Sweet chestnut blight.

The Forestry Commission (FC) or the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) must confirm cases of Chalara.Phytophthora ramorum, Phytopthora pluvialis or sweet chestnut blight infection has to be confirmed by a statutory plant health notice (SPHN).

Where to use this item

Its available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, Woodland Tree Health and Woodland Creation grants on:

  • bare land (any land that has not been woodland for at least 10 years before the date of application)
  • woodland (following felling due to a plant health disease)
  • hedgerows

You can use this item to plant single trees, clumps of trees, hedgerows or woodlands.

Its also available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Capital Grants, with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) approval only, for:

  • planting tree shelter belts for ammonia capture from slurry or digestate stores, livestock housing or free-range areas for poultry or pig to improve air quality
  • tree shelter belt to be planted within 20 metres (m) of the livestock building or the slurry or digestate stores and/or in the entire ranging area for free range poultry or pigs

It is also available for Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants (SFI pilot) without Catchment Sensitive Farming approval to help you undertake actions in the Farm woodland standard, but only if you locate the tree on arable land or improved grassland used for the optional Expand your woodland action.

Where this item cannot be used

  • If tree planting could damage areas of ecological, archaeological or historic interest
  • To plant woodland for producing Christmas trees or biomass
  • For restocking woodlands following a conditional felling licence (except where this has been issued for tree health reasons)
  • To plant ash trees

How this item benefits the environment

It will help create a range of environmental and social benefits that:

  • supports wildlife, particularly when new woodland links habitats or creates a protective buffer
  • reduces the risk of floods, improves water quality and prevents soil erosion
  • is resilient and can adapt to climate change
  • enhances the landscape
  • improves air quality by trees capturing ammonia emissions from livestock, slurry and digestate, reducing the impact on sensitive habitats and species and on human health

Requirements

Prepare a woodland creation plan

When creating new woodland you must prepare a woodland creation plan (included in the application) that states the following.

  • Planting objectives
  • Species to be used
  • Planting density (the number of trees per hectare)
  • Percentage of open space and means of protection (fencing or individual tree guards as appropriate)
  • Areas to be planted and any areas of open space within the woodland (provide a map showing this information)

Creating or restocking woodland

If you are planting trees to create new woodland or to restock woodland you must follow the requirements in the table below. Read Replace trees after felling due to pests and diseases for more information on replacing trees in plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS).

Dimensions Create new woodland Create new woodland to improve water or air quality or reduce flood risk Restock after a tree health issue Plant tree shelter belt/area under Mid Tier or Capital Grant
Minimum agreement size 3ha 1ha 0.25ha **
Minimum block size 0.5ha 0.1ha 0.1ha **
Minimum width 20 metres (m) 10m 20m Width of livestock shed or store and/or free range area ** **depends on source of ammonia and effectiveness of capture by trees - see below
Minimum depth 20m** or free range area
Minimum stocking density *1100 stems per ha (sph) 1,600sph *1100sph Main canopy 1100 sph Backstop canopy 2500 sph *In exceptional circumstances, where there will be a specific biodiversity benefit, you may be able to use a reduced stocking density of 400sph.
Maximum internal open space 20% 20% 20% 0
Maximum individual glade area (after canopy closure) 0.5ha 0.5ha 0.5ha
Maximum linear open space width (after canopy closure) 20m 20m 0

Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations

(For Mid Tier and Capital grants only. For Higher Tier this is part of the Woodland Creation and Maintenance Grant application)

1. Check whether you need a forestry Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) based on your location and size of planting area, by referring to the guidance in the link below. Generally:

  1. a) planting less than 0.5ha will never require an EIA as this does not meet the definition of afforestation

  2. b) planting between 0.5ha and 2ha will typically not require an EIA application to be made, unless there is a statutory designation on the site (for example, Site of Special Scientific Interest), or other environmental sensitivity (for example, local archaeology)

  3. c) planting more than 2ha will typically require an EIA application

2. Where relevant apply to the Forestry Commission for an EIA decision for afforestation

Tree planting for capturing ammonia emissions to improve air quality

1. Prepare a tree planting plan designed to capture ammonia from livestock housing, slurry or digestate stores (tree shelter belts) and/or ranging area for free range pig or poultry

  1. Request advice from your Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer, only available if you are in a High Priority Area for Water or Air Quality

  2. You will need CSF approval for your application for tree planting for improving air quality. This is only available if you are in a high priority area for water quality. CSF approval will be based on the effectiveness of the proposed tree planting for capturing ammonia emissions from a slurry/

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