The National Forest

• Creating Woodlands
• Changing Landscapes Scheme
• Freewoods Scheme
• Parkland and Wood Pasture Scheme
• Programme Development Fund
• Garden Tree Give Away!
• Guide for Developers and Planners
• Tree Health in The National Forest
• Nature Conservation

Changing Landscapes Scheme

The CLS offers a generous level of funding to any landowner for the creation of new woodlands and associated habitats. It is unique to The National Forest and pays 100% of costs for woodland and habitat creation and its management for 10 years. Land entered into the CLS may incorporate other habitats including parkland, meadows, unimproved grassland, orchards, hedgerows and wetlands.

The CLS requires competitive bids from landowners, with the elements of the schemes drawn from a standard and publicised costs menu. For each item there is a prescribed maximum price which will be paid. A CLS application will be judged according to design and content and upon the overall contribution which it will make to National Forest objectives, (as described in the National Forest Strategy 2004 - 2014 and Delivery Plan 2009 - 2014).

The more elements (wooded and non-wooded) included in a successful scheme, the greater the funding will be. However, there is equally a significant role for simple, well designed, conventional woodlands in the development of the Forest.

The aim is to continue to create a new landscape for the nation across 200 square miles in parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. There is room for variety in how this is done within the parameters of high quality forestry and habitat creation and management.

Eligibility

Any landowner with land in The National Forest may apply for the CLS and there are only a few restrictions on eligibility. These include: land which has previously been funded by the former National Forest Tender Scheme and the Woodland Grant Scheme; land which is under an existing Environmental Stewardship Scheme; land which is required to be planted to satisfy a planning condition or to fulfil a Section 106 obligation. In addition, applicants will need to be registered on the Rural Land Register at the Rural Payments Agency.

Size

The minimum area of land for a CLS application is 1 hectare and there is no upper limit. All schemes must include at least 50% woodland creation. Schemes can include multiple sites but in total must add up to a minimum of 1 hectare.

Payments

The CLS can fund 100% of the cost of creating and establishing woodland and other habitats for a 10 year period with payments in Year 1 (80%) and Year 6 (20%). If eligibile, additional payments can be made to offset lost income.

Whatever you would like to do with your land, it is probably possible under CLS. Our principle is that you choose from the extensive menu, rather than a one size fits all approach. For further information contact:

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