The Farm Woodland Scheme 1988

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Scheme)

This Scheme, which applies to Great Britain and operates from 1st October 1988, provides for the payment of annual grants to owners or lessees of agricultural land which has been converted to farm woodlands for abating any financial loss which has been or will be suffered in consequence of that conversion.

Applicants for entry to the Scheme must occupy eligible agricultural land (as defined in paragraph 2(1)), carry on an agricultural business which relates to that land and agree a plan of operations for the conversion with the Forestry Commissioners. Subsequent applicants taking over land already converted must take over within 12 months and must also carry on an agricultural business which includes or adjoins that land (paragraph 3).

The Scheme also—

(a) excludes certain specified categories of land (paragraphs 5 and 6);

(b) restricts initial entrants into the Scheme to conversion of a maximum of 40 hectares and a minimum of 3 hectares in one agricultural unit, with separate plantations of at least one hectare (paragraph 7);

(c) requires entrants to undertake to carry out the plan of operations, maintain the converted woodlands, give notice of change of occupation or of ceasing to carry on their agricultural business and furnish information required to evaluate the Scheme. Provision is made for grant to cease if an entrant ceases to carry on his agricultural business (paragraph 8);

(d) specifies duration of payments and rates of grant according to the category of woodlands and the type of land from which they were converted (paragraphs 9 and 10 and Schedules 1 and 2);

(e) provides for financial limits to be applied to the number of applications or approvals during any specified period of the Scheme and for withholding or recovery of grants in cases of false statements or failure to observe requirements of the Scheme (paragraphs 12 and 14).