An important new grant has been announced by The Forestry Commission, magnified by the most recent announcement regarding the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Until relatively recently, demand for timber products from UK woodlands was suppressed by cheap imports. With the rapid increase in fossil fuel prices over the last twelve months, the market for woodfuel products has increased. Supply, however, has been hampered by a lack of investment over many years in both infrastructure and equipment.
The new Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant (WWIG) announced by The Forestry Commission is designed to address this shortage of supply and improve productivity from an underutilised woodland asset in the UK. Although the RHI initially is not available for domestic properties, it will become so after the first year. It should be noted that log burning stoves are not eligible at all.
The new grant announced will offer 60% contribution to costs. The type of work which will be supported is infrastructure including forest roads and access tracks and other related harvesting infrastructures. The grant can also support the cost of administration work and drawing up/supervising harvesting contracts and for some businesses may assist with the purchase of harvesting equipment.
Although the detail of the grant is as yet unknown, woodland owners are advised to ensure they have a current Woodland Management Plan in place as this is the first step to being eligible to receive the grant. Grants are also available for preparing that plan which is designed to assess the amount of timber which can be harvested over a certain period.
