During September 2024, Defra confirmed that the pilot scheme would be extended and improved to help ensure there is no gap in this support while tree funding transitions into ELMs.
The support available to help manage dangerous trees with ash dieback may be of particular interest to some farms.
What is the tree health pilot scheme?
The pilot scheme aims to test different ways of slowing the spread of diseases affecting trees and was a commitment made in the 2020 Agricultural Transition Plan.
It offers grant funding to farmers, land managers and owners of small woodland and trees outside of woodlands, to help combat several tree pests and disease. This includes support for felling, restocking and maintenance of newly replanted trees after a pest or disease outbreak.
The pilot scheme has been designed to test stackable tree health grant options within pilot areas, for both group and individual applications.
How to apply
You’ll usually be invited to take part in the pilot because you’ve been contacted by a Forestry Commission woodland officer.
You may be invited to apply by an officer because you have a specific tree, pest or disease on your land. For example, you might have a SPHN (Statutory Plant Health Notice) for trees infected by one of the specified pests or diseases.
However, you can still submit an expression of interest form online for the pilot scheme without an invitation. There is a separate expression of interest form for ash dieback and an application form for the tree health advice package.
After submitting an expression of interest, a Forestry Commission representative will consider whether you’re eligible and will contact you via email within three weeks.
If eligible, they’ll arrange a pre-assessment site visit and will advise on whether to submit a full application. It’s worth nothing that a site visit may result in an SPHN which legally requires you to deal with the pest and disease.
Who is eligible?
The pilot scheme funding is for groups and individuals who manage the following specific trees or woodlands affected by certain pests and diseases:
- larch with Phytophthora ramorum
- spruce with or at risk of Ips typographus (eight-toothed spruce bark beetle) or that they are growing in the proactive spruce removal area
- sweet chestnut with Phytophthora ramorum or sweet chestnut blight
- oak with oak processionary moth in the established area
- ash with ash dieback.
The trees or woodlands you manage must be in one of the following regions:
- North West
- West Midlands
- London
- South East.
The scheme is competitive with applications being scored. If you’re not eligible to take part in the scheme, you may be eligible to apply for the Countryside Stewardship Woodland Tree Health grants.
These grants provide woodland restoration and improvement support.
What funding is available?
Where eligible, funding is available for:
- Larch, spruce and sweet chestnut: felling, chemical killing and permanent infrastructure improvements such as building roads, tracks and gates.
- Oak with oak processionary moth: designed for local authorities to help improve understanding and managing the hazards of oak processionary moth, raising public awareness through communications and engagement.
- Ash with ash dieback: managing dangerous ash trees with ash dieback that are growing along roadsides and public rights of way, this includes the costs associated with road closures, surveys, restocking, capital items and maintenance, but not the direct felling costs.
- Restocking trees: restocking and maintenance after felling due to pest and diseases.
- Capital items for improving pest management and biosecurity.
How has the NFU been involved?
NFU engagement with the government has helped improve the 2024 pilot scheme offer for ash dieback. This now includes a condition survey and is open to individuals as well as groups looking to cover some of the costs associated with ash dieback.
The NFU continues to ask the government to consider expanding this to provide support for the direct felling costs. More guidance on managing ash dieback can be found on NFUonline.
Certain conditions must be met by the individual to qualify for the ash dieback pilot scheme funding, the criteria of which can be viewed on Defra’s website. Funding for groups will cover the same costs as the funding for individuals.
For more information visit: GOV.UK | Tree health pilot scheme.
