Welsh woodlands scheme to close

Instead it will be integrated into Glastir, the Welsh Assembly Government’s new sustainable land management scheme which is already set to replace Tir Gofal, Tir Cynnal, Tir Mynydd, the Organic Farming Scheme and the Organic Farming Conversion Scheme.

This change is the result of a review carried out by the commission into how woodland grants should be managed to ensure they deliver the Assembly Government’s Woodlands for Wales strategy.

FCW will continue to deliver woodland creation grants until January 1, 2013 via Glastir on behalf of the Assembly Government.

The Woodlands for Wales strategy, which was launched in 2009, places particular emphasis on woodland creation and bringing farm woodlands into management.

However, research has shown that the BWW scheme has not attracted enough farmers to manage their woodlands or to plant new woodlands - but, as farmers own most of the plantable land in Wales, their involvement is considered essential to expand the country’s woodland cover.

“The delivery of woodland grants via Glastir will establish a single, holistic approach to grant support for land management in Wales,” according to Assembly Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, confirming the changes.

“As an integrated land management scheme, Glastir will offer support to woodland owners and farmers and will reduce bureaucracy by offering a one-stop-shop for rural grant aid.”

The BWW scheme will close to new applicants at the end of December 2010 and all contracts for work supported by BWW must be approved by December 31, 2011.

Forestry Commission Wales will be involved in the design of the woodland creation grant scheme it will deliver from Autumn 2010 on behalf of Glastir and it will also be involved in the design of the woodland grants that will be delivered by the Assembly Government via Glastir from January 2013.

●For information on the BWW scheme, contact Forestry Commission Wales on 0300 068 0300, email FCWEnquiries@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or see www.forestry.gov.uk/wales

Have your say

Please do not complete the following form field for security reasons.

Name

E-mail

Comment

Post as

Anonymously

Display name