(This note is not part of the Scheme)
This Scheme, which applies to Great Britain, provides for the payment of annual grants to abate financial losses incurred in consequence of the conversion of agricultural land (including, in Scotland, common grazings) to use for woodlands. The Scheme complies with Title VIII of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2328/91 on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures (OJ No. L218, 6.8.91 p.1). This Scheme supersedes the Farm Woodland Scheme 1988 under which no further applications may be accepted after the coming into force of this Scheme (paragraph 16).
This Scheme provides for applications for grants in respect of eligible land (as defined in paragraph 2(1)) to be made by occupiers of agricultural land carrying on agricultural businesses, and by grazings constables and grazings committees in respect of common grazings in Scotland. An initial entrant must submit with his application a plan for the conversion of eligible land to woodlands, which must be consistent with proposals for conversion agreed by him with the Forestry Commissioners for the purposes of the Woodland Grant Scheme (paragraph 3(1)). Where payment of grant is due under the Scheme in respect of converted land, or where the planned conversion has not yet been completed, a successor to the initial entrant may apply for grant (paragraph 3(2)). Every applicant is required to give undertakings with respect to the planned conversion, the management and use of the land to which his application relates and related matters (paragraph 8).
The Scheme also—
(a)excludes certain categories of land (paragraphs 5 and 6);
(b)imposes on Scheme participants maximum and minimum limits in relation to the amount of land which may be converted to woodlands (paragraph 7);
(c)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). Rates of grant depend on whether the eligible land is disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged land. Those categories of land are defined in paragraph 2(1) by reference to designated maps. The maps are available for inspection during normal office hours at the addresses specified in the definition;
(d)provides for the imposition, where certain financial conditions apply, of limits on the number of applications or approvals during any specified period of the Scheme (paragraph 12);
(e)permits participants to vary their plans with the consent of the appropriate Minister (paragraph 13);
(f)provides for the withholding or recovery of grants in cases of false statements or failure to observe requirements of the Scheme (paragraph 14);
(g)requires participants to allow entry onto and inspection of their land by persons duly appointed by the appropriate Minister, for the purposes of ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Scheme (paragraph 15).