The Farm Woodland Scheme 1988

Requirements for entry into the Scheme

3.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Scheme, a person may be accepted by the appropriate Minister as an initial entrant if, in the opinion of that Minister, he—

(a) occupies eligible land in relation to which he makes an application to join the Scheme; and

(b) carries on, whether personally or by a manager, an agricultural business on an agricultural unit which includes that land; and

(c) has agreed with the Forestry Commissioners a plan of operations for conversion of that land from agricultural use to use for woodlands.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Scheme, a person may be accepted by the appropriate Minister as a subsequent entrant if, in the opinion of that Minister, he—

(a) occupies converted woodlands, either with or without eligible land which remains the subject of a plan of operations which he agrees to complete, in relation to which he makes an application to join the Scheme; and

(b) carries on, whether personally or by a manager, an agricultural business on an agricultural unit which includes those woodlands and (where applicable) that eligible land or is adjacent to them; and

(c) occupies the land referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above in immediate succession to a previous occupier who had been accepted as an entrant into this Scheme.

(3) In paragraph (2) above “immediate succession” means occupation of the land in question within 12 months of the termination of occupation by the previous occupier who was an entrant into this Scheme or by his personal representatives.