What is the Forestry Grant Scheme in Scotland?

20.8.24

As a major supplier of timber and timber products to the construction and civil engineering industries, we're forever mindful of environmental matters surrounding the sourcing and supply of these products. Aimed at landowners, forestry professionals and members of the public interested in managing existing woodlands or creating new woodlands, The Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) offers financial support. There are a range of support options covering planting, woodland protection, harvesting and more.

The importance of Scotland’s woodlands

Scotland's woodlands are one of the jewels in our crown, a national resource that plays a crucial role in rural development and sustainable land use. Mindfully married with business, forestry offers several economic and environmental benefits.

In December 2023, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary responsible for forestry hosted a summit to explore how more woodland can be created in Scotland, and on 1 October 2024, the Forestry Grant Scheme will be updated to align with the new UK Forestry Standard (2023).

Forestry Grant Scheme broken down

The Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) supports:

· the creation of new woodlands – contributing towards the Scottish Government target of 18,000 hectares of new woodlands per year from 2024/25
· the sustainable management of existing woodlands

You can apply for support under eight categories:

· two for the creation of woodland

· six for management of existing woodland

A range of funding options exists within some of these categories, relating to specific types of project or work.

Woodland Creation

Agroforestry

Woodland Improvement Grant

Sustainable Management of Forests

Tree Health

Harvesting and Processing

Forest Infrastructure

Forestry Co-operation

Click here for more details.

Sources:

ruralpayments.org

forestry.gov.scot