Sustainable Management of Forests - Restructuring Felling (RP22501D)

The aim of this Option

Even-aged plantations are not well-suited to today's multi-purpose objectives. Restructuring felling provides the opportunity to change the even-aged woodland structure and enhance the landscape and woodland environment.

Rates of Support

These are Annually Recurrent Grants, the rates of which are shown on the Sustainable Management of Forests page

Eligibility criteria

You must own or lease the land
If you are a tenant or contractual licensee, you must discuss the proposed application with your landlord to make sure it does not break the conditions of your tenancy or licence, and submit a Landlord Notification Form with your Proposal.
If you have a tenancy or a licence with less than five years to run you must complete a Landlord Declaration form and ask your Landlord or the landowner to sign the declaration on that form.
The woodland must be at least 1 hectare in size.
You must have a felling licence through an approved Forest Plan or a felling licence application. If you don't have one you should apply and we will process the felling licence application at the same time as your application for restructuring felling. You must not carry out any felling until your felling licence is approved.
You cannot apply for this option if felling has already taken place
Restructuring to Short Rotation Forestry will only be eligible for restructuring felling payment for the initial transformation of the woodland. Felling woodland planted with short rotation forestry at the end of any subsequent rotations will not be eligible for this payment.
Areas of windblow are eligible as long as they have not been removed before your proposal for restructuring felling is approved.

Requirement for Forest Plan or Management Plan

After 4th April 2012, you must have an approved Forest Plan for all woodlands greater than 100 hectares, before you can apply for the SMF Restructuring Felling option.

If your woodland is less than 100 hectares, then you can provide an approved, simpler Management Plan instead if that is more appropriate.

Up to 4th April 2012, you need only have begun your Forest Plan preparation. You can apply for SMF Restructuring Felling provided you have a Rural Priorities proposal containing the option WIG - Long Term Forest Planning at 'Proposal Commit' stage.

Details you need to provide with your Proposal

Before your Proposal reaches the "Proposal Commit" stage you must provide:

Management Plan
For woodland areas less than 100 hectares a Management Plan or a completed Management Plan template; OR
Forest Plan proposal reference
A reference for your Forest Plan or your Forest Plan Proposal (up to 4th April 2012)
Forestry Outcome Plan
The Forestry Outcome Plan will ask for certain information so that we can assess your proposal. This will include:
A description of the current structure of the woodland and why restructuring felling is appropriate
A map
Showing the proposed design of felling and replanting by felling coupe. To ensure you mark your map correctly, please use the Mapping Guidance
Felling Licence reference number

Claims and Inspections

The grant for restructuring felling is an Annual Recurrent grant and can be paid for 4 years once the felling is completed. You must complete the Single Application Form (SAF) to claim this funding.