English farmers are being offered grants of up to £5,000 by Defra if they restock trees that are diseased or pest-ridden.
Grants may be used to pay back some of the costs of felling diseased trees, chemically killing diseased trees, restocking trees, maintenance of trees, biosecurity to stop pests and diseased being transferred.
The Tree Health Pilot scheme is now open for expressions of interest and is due to run until 2024. Defra is looking to invite around 100 applications from those who submit an expression of interest.
It is part of a broad range of policies being developed by Government to reward rural businesses for improving the environment.
Delivered by the Forestry Commission, the pilot will support the felling and restocking of trees, as well as providing maintenance payments for restock sites.
The initial focus is on ash, sweet chestnut, larch and spruce in specific geographical regions, namely parts of the North West, West Midlands, London and the South East of England.
Farmers and landowners who are already receiving grants under the existing Countryside Stewardship Woodland Tree Health Health grants, the scheme will not be able to apply for the pilot too.
LSL News.