Section 9 How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Note 3: How to complete the Woodland Map and Application Form 9.8 Note 4: Applicant’s Charter 9.32 Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme delivering the Scottish Forestry Strategy www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Introduction Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium There is a joint application process for SFGS and the Farmland Premium Scheme. For you to qualify for grant we must approve your work proposals in your application which you must set out in a five year plan of operations. You can obtain copies of the application forms from your local FC Scotland Conservancy office or from our web site (www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland). The main application forms are also available electronically alongside the SFGS Grant Calculator from our website. Who can apply Applications can be made by owners or leaseholders. If you are a leaseholder, tenant, crofting tenant or grazings committee you must check that the owner agrees to your plans. Landlords who resume land either by means of a contested Notice to Quit or against the wishes of crofters, will not be eligible for SFGS grants on the property. You can use one application for a group of woodlands or properties if these are under one ownership and are close enough to be managed together. Farmland Premium To be accepted into the Farmland Premium, you must be running an agricultural business and the land to be planted must have been agricultural land for 3 years prior to application SEERAD will check your application against IACS records where appropriate. It must fall within certain size requirements. (See Minimum and Maximum Areas on page 7.3.) If you have any doubt about your eligibility for the scheme, you are strongly advised to consult your local SEERAD office before making an application. If you do not qualify for the Farmland Premium, you may still be eligible for assistance under the SFGS. An agricultural business means a business or part of a business pursuing agricultural activities. For these purposes, ‘agriculture’ means horticulture, fruit growing, arable cropping, seed growing, dairy farming, livestock breeding and keeping, the use of the land as grazing land, meadowland, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds, or the use of land as woodland where that use is ancillary to the use of the land for other agricultural activities. Letting land to another person on a short term basis to carry out an agricultural activity, where you retain some responsibility for the management of the land, e.g. on a short-term tenancy or for seasonal grazing, is also considered to be an agricultural activity. Keeping horses for recreational or sporting purposes, and fish farming are not considered to be agricultural activities. Version 1: May 2005 Support for afforestation of agricultural land undertaken by public authorities will cover only the cost of establishment. This means that a public authority may apply for SFGS but not for Farmland Premium. Landlords and tenants In the case of a full agricultural tenancy it is the tenant and not the landlord who is eligible to apply, but the landlord’s written consent is required on form SFGS/FP7. We must get this before we can consider approving the application. Tenants are recommended to take legal advice before applying to the scheme because agricultural tenancy agreements or leases are often unsuitable for forestry purposes. If the applicant rents out land to another person for their exclusive occupation, it is not 9.1 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium eligible for Farmland Premium. A tenant may be liable to repay grant if their tenancy ends before his Farmland Premium agreement and their successor is unwilling to take over the agreement. Crofting and Common grazings Crofters have the same eligibility for Farmland Premium as other agricultural occupiers, common grazings and tenants. Planting of woodland may take place on common grazings in crofting areas, subject to landlord’s consent if appropriate and Crofters Commission approval, thus allowing crofters to benefit fully from the SFGS and Farmland Premium. Drawing up your application Before preparing your application you may find it useful to: • Talk to a Forestry Commission Scotland Woodland Officer. • Seek professional help to prepare your application and carry out the management of your woodland. • Use our ‘Land Information Search’ on our web page to assess any special features/constraints. You will need to demonstrate that work proposals meet the objectives of the SFGS. To allow us to consider your proposals and assess them properly, you should send your application to us at least three months before you want to start work, or earlier if possible. Land Information Search (LIS) Which forms to complete The LIS is a map based tool, available on our web site that gives information about any land designations or features eg Special Protection Areas, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Applicants should take account of the information in their proposals to FC Scotland. To make an application for SFGS/FP grants you will need to complete: • SFGS/FP1 – Application: In this form we ask for information about you and your property. It also includes a declaration which you must sign agreeing that details regarding your application and your eventual contract may be made available to the public. We will also consider your application as an application for our ‘Opinion’ (if this has not already been given) under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. Currently, we still require this form to be submitted with your signature and so this will have to be posted with your map to the local FC Scotland Conservancy Office. • SFGS/FP2 – Land Details: Only complete this form if you are applying for Farmland Premium. (See also Section 7.) This information is required so that cross checks can be made with any other SEERAD grants. 9.2 Version 1: May 2005 • Woodland Map: You must also supply an up to date Ordnance Survey map that shows the boundary of your application. Guidance on how to prepare the woodland map is given in Note 3 (page 9.9) www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium • SFGS/FP3a – Work Proposals: In this form we ask for a description of your objectives and proposals. • SFGS/FP3b – Details of Expansion, Stewardship and Restocking: In this form we ask you to detail your work proposals for the next five years. You should also tell us about any proposed thinning or felling for which permission is required. We would prefer that you submit these details on the electronically available Grant Calculator (available from our website). The Grant Calculator allows you to complete the suite of application forms of SFGS/FP1, 2, 3a & 3b. The 3b Form is based on an Excel spreadsheet and you will be guided through the form as you begin to enter data. A key feature of the grant calculator is that it is based on the unique operation reference number for eligible operations. The Grant Calculator will work out the total grants payable. The Grant Calculator is easier to complete correctly than the paper copy and we would ask that you email this to your local FC Scotland Conservancy office. • SFGS/FP7 – Landlords Consent: If you are a tenant then you will need to obtain your landlords consent. Further guidance on how to complete the forms is given in Note 3 (page 9.8). You must not start any work until you receive an SFGS contract, approved by the Forestry Commission and Farmland Premium approval where applicable. Approval will be required from the Crofters Commission for Crofter Forestry Schemes on crofters common grazing land. Where to send your application Version 1: May 2005 Environmental Impact Assessment of forestry projects We will deal with your application for both SFGS and SFGS/Farmland Premium. Send your application to your local Conservancy office (see Section 14). Where a forestry project (deforestation, afforestation, forestry roads and forestry quarries) might have a significant effect on the environment then you must get our consent for the work. If our consent is required we will ask you to prepare an Environmental Statement. There are area thresholds for each of these projects. We only need to decide whether consent for work is required for those projects with an area larger than the threshold. If the area of the work you propose falls below the thresholds then it is not likely to require our consent. Operation Threshold where any part of the land is in a sensitive area Threshold where no part of the land is in a sensitive area Afforestation 2 hectares, where the land is in a National Park or National Scenic Area (NSA). No threshold in other sensitive areas. 5 hectares Deforestation 0.5 hectare where the land is in a National Park or NSA. No threshold in other sensitive areas. 1 hectare Forest Roads No threshold 1 hectare Forest Quarries No threshold 1 hectare 9.3 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Definition of “sensitive areas” 9.4 Getting our opinion If the area of the work exceeds the thresholds then you should request our opinion as to whether consent is required. In the majority of instances your SFGS application will fulfil this requirement. We will give our opinion, in writing, within 28 days of receiving the necessary information. You can also use a Determination Form if you would like to find out before you make an application whether or not our consent for work would be needed. You can get a copy of this form on our website or from your local FC Scotland Conservancy office. Getting more information about Environmental Impact Assessment There are two booklets available on the Forestry Commission website www.forestry.gov.uk or from your local FC Scotland Conservancy office. • ‘Environmental lmpact Assessment of Forestry Projects’, this booklet describes how the Regulations work. • ‘Undertaking an Environmental lmpact Assessment in Forestry and Preparing an Environmental Statement’, gives you detailed advice about the issues to consider and the procedures to follow when preparing your Environmental Statement. Forest roads If you are going to build a new road, substantially upgrade an existing track, or alter the route of an existing road in the woodland, your application should include summary information on the design and method of construction you intend to use. Plant Health Under Plant Health legislation, any trees intended for planting that are moved to professional growers must be accompanied by a plant passport, confirming their health, Plant passports may only be issued by an authorised (registered) grower or trader. For further details, contact the Plant Health Service, Forestry Commission, Silvan House, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT or telephone 0131 334 0303. Version 1: May 2005 For the purposes of the Table shown above, the definitions of “sensitive areas” are as follows: a. land notified under subsection (1) of section 28 (areas of special scientific interest) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; b. land to which subsection (3) of section 29 (nature conservancy orders) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 applies; c. a National Park within the meaning of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the National Park (Scotland) Act 2000; d. a property appearing on the World Heritage List kept under article 11(2) of the 1972 UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the Worlds Cultural and Natural Heritage; e. a scheduled monument within the meaning of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979; f. an area designated as a Natural Heritage Area by a direction made by the Secretary of State or the Scottish Ministers under section 6(2) of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991(d) or as a National Scenic Area by a direction made by the Secretary of State under section 262C of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972(e); g. a European site within the meaning of regulation 10 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994. www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland How we deal with your application Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Acknowledging receipt When the local FC Scotland Conservancy office gets your application, it will acknowledge it within three days and tell you the names of staff who will be dealing with it. Visiting the site Our Woodland officer will usually visit the site to assess your application and whether your proposals meet the aims of the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme. SEERAD staff may also visit to check eligibility. If such a visit is planned, we will contact you within two weeks. We would normally make this visit within four weeks of receiving your application. You do not need to be there when we visit, but if you want to be present, we will try to arrange a time which suits you. We will then discuss with you any points about your application which are unclear, or where we need more information, or we may offer advice, with a view to agreeing firm proposals. If your application does not meet FC guidelines (and may therefore be rejected by us) we will explain why and tell you as soon as possible. Getting to firm proposals The stage “Firm Proposals” is reached once initial discussions are complete and we are’ satisfied that your application meets our guidelines so that the application is of a standard to be taken forward for an approval decision. Register of new planting and felling Version 1: May 2005 If your application includes proposals for creating new woodlands or for felling trees, information about it will appear on the Register of New Planting and Felling. You can access the map -based register on the Forestry Commission’s website at www.forestry.gov.uk. This allows people to look at the proposals and to give us more information or make comments. The Register gives brief details about where the application is located and the work that is going to be carried out. The Register is produced each Monday and includes all cases which have reached “Firm Proposals” in the previous four weeks. We allow people four weeks from the date that the Register is produced to make any comments about the application. They must write to the Conservator (the head of the local Forestry Commission office) who will consider their comments and may ask you to adjust your proposals to take account of any important issues. People who look at the Register can also ask to see the map and application forms and we will make them a copy if requested. We remind people that most applications are on land that is privately owned and that they need to ask your permission if they want to go into the area. The Register also lists applications once they are approved so that people can find out what has happened. A leaflet is available which explains the purpose of the Register to members of the public. Copies are available from your local FC Scotland Conservancy office. 9.5 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Consulting on applications Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium We have agreed to consult local authorities and other statutory organisations to get their view on the impact of certain types of applications. Other bodies, including Community Councils, will be notified of applications as appropriate. We will take their views into account before approving your application. If there are changes to be made we will discuss these with you. If we send your application for consultation, you will be informed of the organisations involved. These organisations have agreed to reply to us within 28 days. However, if they have further comments to make, they may be allowed longer to prepare these and to carry out any necessary discussions. The consultation process takes place during the same period that your application is on the Register of New Planting and Felling. Dealing with objections In a very few cases, there are objections to planting or felling proposals which cannot be resolved by local discussion. Where such an objection by a statutory consultee cannot be resolved locally, the matter is referred to the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC considers views from the consultees, local interest groups and local people. If agreement cannot be reached, the RAC will pass the case (with their recommendations) to the Forestry Commissioners for their consideration. If the Commissioners agree with the objection(s) raised by statutory consultees, they will decide on the application immediately. However, if they disagree with the objection(s), they will seek the views of Scottish Ministers before making a decision. SFGS/Farmland Premium applications Once your application reaches “Firm Proposals” stage, we will send details to your local Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) office. They will process your application while the details appear on our Register of New Planting and Felling. Once we get their approval we will issue a draft SFGS contract with Farmland Premium approval. The draft contract We will send you two copies (or three where Farmland Premium is involved) of the draft contract and map. You must sign these documents and return them to your local FC Scotland Conservancy office for approval as soon as possible. Farmland Premium applicants will also be required to sign a Declarations and Undertaking form in relation to their Schemes (see page 7.4). When to expect your contract We will endeavour to send you the SFGS contract (and SFGS/Farmland Premium Declarations and Undertakings if appropriate) within the time specified in our Applicant’s Charter. Remember, we cannot issue contracts for applications which include new planting or felling until they have been on the Register of New Planting and Felling for four weeks. You must sign and return your draft SFGS contract (and SFGS/Farmland Premium Declarations and Undertakings if appropriate) to us within six months of receipt or you will have to reapply. Please note that you must wait until we have signed and returned your approved copy before you can start work. 9.6 Version 1: May 2005 The FC may reject an application at any stage if it does not meet the UK Forestry Standard (and associated guidelines) or if – in our opinion – it would be likely to cause significant harm to the environment (see EIA, page 9.3). www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Contract conditions Starting work Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium A copy of the SFGS Contract Conditions is available from your local Conservancy office or from our website and a copy will form part of your contract. These explain your obligations under the scheme and also the circumstances under which we may terminate your contract. Please read them carefully. Please note that you must not start work on any areas until you have received your SFGS contract (including Farmland Premium approval where this applies). If you do any planting or preparatory work before approval, SEERAD will refuse your application for Farmland Premium and we cannot issue a SFGS/FP contract. Once we receive SEERAD approval we will issue you with your SFGS contract with Farmland Premium approval. Quality of service Forestry Commission Scotland is committed to providing the best service possible with the resources available. It is in your interest and ours that SFGS contracts are issued and grant claims paid in good time. It will help us in this if you can respond promptly when we write to you or contact you. If you are not satisfied If you do not think we have handled your SFGS application or grant claim fairly, please discuss this directly with your local Conservator. If you cannot settle the difficulty with him or her, then you should get in touch with the Director, Forestry Commission Scotland. You will receive an acknowledgement and then a full response within four weeks. If, after the Director has replied, you still consider your complaint has not been satisfactorily resolved, you may ask for it to be considered by the appropriate nonexecutive Forestry Commissioner who is appointed to the Board of Commissioners from outside the Forestry Commission. They are drawn from a variety of backgrounds in order to give a balance of interest and expertise on the Board. Version 1: May 2005 You should contact: The Secretary to the Commissioners, Forestry Commission, Silvan House, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH127AT asking for your case to be passed to the appropriate Commissioner and setting out why you are unhappy with what has happened. Your request for your complaint to be considered will be acknowledged and every effort will be made to let you have a full reply within four weeks. You will be told if more time will be needed. In addition you, or a representative, authorised by you to complain on your behalf, may also ask the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for your complaint to be investigated. Your representative may be an MSP, local councillor or any person you consider suitable to represent your interests. Your complaint must be submitted to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, 23 Walker Street, Edinburgh EH3 7HX within 12 months after the day on which you first had notice of the matter complained of. Further information regarding the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is available at www.scottishombudsman.org.uk. If you have complaints on the way your Farmland Premium application or payments have been handled then please contact your SEERAD office (see page 14.2). 9.7 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Note 3: How to complete the Woodland Map and Application Form This note will help you complete the Woodland Map SFGS application forms and is divided into eight parts: Part 1 How to complete the Woodland Map Part 2 How to complete Application Form SFGS/FP1 Part 3 How to complete the Land Details Form SFGS/FP2 Part 4 How to complete the Work Proposals Forms SFGS/FP3a Part 5 How to complete the Grant Details of Expansion, Stewardship and Restocking Form SFGS/FP3b Part 6 How to complete the Grant Calculator (GC) Part 7 Whole Scheme Operations Part 8 Example of SFGS/FP3b and Woodland Map Version 1: May 2005 You can apply to SFGS using paper application forms. However we would prefer if you used the ‘Grant Calculator’ (GC). This allows you to complete the suite of forms (SFGS/FP1, 2, 3a and 3b) electronically. The 3b form is a customised Excel spreadsheet which will work out the grant amounts for the work you want to do. 9.8 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Part 1: How to complete the Woodland Map The maps that you provide are an integral part of your application and will be used as part of your contract. This part is divided into two. Part 1a covers the standard of maps and Part 1b provides details on what to include on your maps. Part 1a What sort of map should I use? For paper maps you must use Ordnance Survey Master Map which are the most up-todate Ordnance Survey (OS) maps. You must use originals or good quality copies. We will accept paper copies of digital maps (produced from data held on and reproduced by computer). All urban areas in Scotland and some rural areas have now been digitised by the Ordnance Survey and are available to the public as Superplan maps. This product allows the customer to define his/her needs and maps can be produced site-centred regardless of National Grid sheet edges and at any size between A4 and AO. This has great advantages in preparing a map for an SFGS or Felling Licence application. If you are applying for Farmland Premium, you must also provide a copy of the most recent edition of your IACS map with the boundary of the application clearly marked. You must provide this map in addition to completing your SFGS/FP2. Version 2: Feb 2006 Where can I get a map? We are working towards making available an online service that will allow you to request free paper and digital maps from the Forestry Commission Scotland, which can be used as your application maps. We will be informing all our customers when this service becomes available. This service will be available to Registered Users who will need to agree to our terms and conditions for the use of these maps. Details of how to become a Registered User and order maps from the Forestry Commission will be available on our website (www.forestry.gov.uk). Alternatively Superplan is obtainable directly from the Ordnance Survey’s network of Options outlets (see www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk for a full list of outlets). When ordering a map you simply provide a grid reference for the centre of the area you require, together with a description of the total area required. For most areas of Scotland (including most mountain and moorland areas) 1:10,000 chart maps are still available through Options outlets. For more details on Superplan and conventional OS maps contact your nearest Options outlet or telephone Ordnance Survey Customer Information on 08456 050505. What about copyright? Any organisation or person wanting to copy Ordnance Survey based maps for their own business or private use must either be licensed by the Ordnance Survey, or apply for permission each time a copy is needed and keep to the terms of the permission. It is the responsibility of the applicant (or agent acting on his/her behalf ) to ensure that any copyright responsibilities are met. The Ordnance Survey provides licences to many bodies (eg local authorities, various professional and business firms, etc) and to 9.9 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium individual customers who have a regular need to copy OS material. To apply for a licence or for further information on copyright contact: Customer Contact Centre – Copyright Ordnance Survey, Romsey Road, Southampton SO16 4GU Tel: 023 8030 5030 E-mail: [email protected] How should I mark the maps? Your map must be marked clearly and accurately and be consistent with your application form SFGS/FP3b. The quantities over which we will pay grant will be based on the quantities measured when we receive your claim. Please note, we will return applications where the maps do not meet the following standard. Before you mark the map check that: • it is an up-to-date OS map; • it is 1:10,000 or 1:5,000 scale (you should use 1:2,500 or 1:1,250 scale for areas less than 2 hectares); • the scale is marked clearly on the map; • the grid lines with grid numbers are shown clearly; • at least two horizontal and two vertical grid lines are shown; • any detail will not be hidden by fold, labels or marks. On a 1:10,000 scale map the grid lines are 10 centimetres apart. On a 1:2,500 scale map the grid lines are 4 centimetres apart. These measurements must be checked for accuracy on a photocopy. Any lines you draw or anything that you write should not hide the detail of the map. The external boundary of each area should be marked either: 1. Using an obvious continuous line drawn as thinly as possible and no greater than 0.5mm width. We will measure to the inside of the line, or 2. Marking the inside of the boundaries with a highlighter pen. This is quick and easy, helps to avoid obscuring details and ensures the maximum eligible area can be measured. Quantities of maps 9.10 You must provide a key with your map that clearly describes the symbology used. All abbreviations should be the same as those used on the application forms. Additional information can be added if relevant. You need only supply one copy of your map(s) with your initial application. If you provide colour maps, then we will subsequently request additional copies so that we can carry out consultation and produce the contract. Version 1: May 2005 Key and labels www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Part 1b If you are carrying out a number of operations on the same area you may need to use more than one map to ensure that the details are clear. What details must I include on my application map(s)? • the name of your property (as on your application forms); • the scale of the map; • OS grid reference of the centre of your application area; • the access point to each block of woodland (using a cross); • the external boundary of the application area; • all compartment/sub-compartment boundaries (similar to those shown in the example on page 9.31); • compartment/sub-compartment boundaries should be clearly marked; • compartment numbers and areas and sub-compartment letters (similar to those shown in the example on page 9.31); • the boundaries of any operations that are to be carried out within the same subcompartment; • species layout clearly marked; • open ground clearly marked; • for areas that contain unmappable open ground, you should indicate appropriate percentages of conifers or broadleaves and open ground on the map (unmappable open ground must be shown as a separate element within a subcompartment on form SFGS/FP3b); • any areas where work is not proposed within the scheme boundary should be marked as ‘OL’; • protected areas and special features: - way-leaves, power lines, pipelines etc; - water supplies and water courses. To help you complete each section of the application forms please refer to the appropriate numbered paragraphs. If you are applying for Farmland Premium, please do not forget to include a copy of your IACS map to accurately delineate the boundary of the proposed planting area. Version 2: Feb 2006 Please note that all information given on the map must comply with the conventions shown in the example on page 9.31. 9.11 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Part 2: How to complete the Application Form SFGS/FP1 Your woodland or property Name Give the name of the woodland or property in which you will be carrying out the work. If submitting this electronically, the name will be populated on all sheets by entering it into the bottom toolbar of the spreadsheet as per the guidance on the form. OS grid reference (comprises two letters and six numbers) Most OS maps explain how to work out the grid reference. Give the grid reference of a point in the middle of the area where you are carrying out the work. If there are several separate areas use the grid reference of the point in the middle of the largest area. Nearest town or village Write the name of the town or village nearest to your application. Local Authority (or planning authority in National Park) Tell us the name of the council responsible for the area relating to the application because we may need to discuss your application with their planning departments. If the property is in a National Park then the National Park is the planning authority. Type of applicant We need information about the main use of your land. Tick the box next to the name that best describes the property. Some definitions are given below: Farm Farming, horticulture Mixed estate Large areas of both farming and woodland Mainly woodland Land used for woodlands Private residence An area round a family house, but not a farm Recreation Used for recreation, such as country park, hotel or conservation area Public building School, hospital, retirement home (whether publicly or privately owned) Industrial Has been a mine, factory, office or is now derelict, restored, landfill/quarry Crofting estate Croft or common grazings Column a: Applicant Category (you must tick only one box in this section) Pick the description from the following list that best describes the occupier of the property: Personal occupier: You or your family own or lease the property, or hold it as a family trust, partnership or family farm. Business occupier: Company, forestry investor, business partnership, syndicate or pension fund. 9.12 Version 1: May 2005 What is this property www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Voluntary organisation: A charitable trust, a community organisation or an organisation funded by public subscription. Public ownership: Government department or local authority. Crofting in-bye land: Land owned by the crofter (landlord’s consent not required). Crofting common grazings: Croft holder and grazings clerk – you will also need landlord’s consent for establishing new woodlands. Other: None of the above. Please specify in the space provided. Column b: Applicant Type: (you must tick only one box in this section) Pick the description from the following list that best describes the occupier of the property: Owner: You or your family has the title to the property. Lessee: You lease the property and the terms of your lease allow you to enter the SFGS. Tenant: You rent the property from a landlord. You may need to obtain your landlord’s consent to enter the Scheme. Your local Conservancy office will give you a form to help you do this if necessary. Crofter: If you are applying to plant trees on common grazings, ensure that you contact your landlord and the Crofters commission as early as possible about your proposals. You will also need your landlord’s consent to the proposals. We cannot approve your application without Crofter’s Commission approval. Trust: If you are one of the trustees who manage the property. Other: None of the above. Please specify in the space provided. Version 1: May 2005 Land resumption Your agent or woodland manager You are not eligible for SFGS if you are a landlord and you have repossessed a holding after a contested notice to quit. Of course, if the tenant is prepared to vacate the holding and does not contest the Notice to Quit then you will be eligible to apply for the SFGS. If you are in any doubt please contact your local Conservancy office. If you have one, please give their details here. If you have employed an agent we will contact the person named in this Section. In all other circumstances we will contact the person named at 6. If you wish the agent to sign the contract on your behalf, you will need to provide a letter of authority or other legal document. If you wish to transfer responsibility to your agent for handling your scheme, (this could 9.13 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium also include signing the contract), the Forestry Commission will allow: • Agents to use one letter of authority to cover both SFGS and Forest Plan contracts; • One letter of authority to cover many properties; • One letter of authority for multiple owners with one or more properties. Please ensure that your letter of authority clearly identifies the specific acts that your agent is allowed to carry out. You should also specify the land to which the authority relates. Where one person, or joint owners, own a number of properties we can accept one letter of authority from their agent or representative to cover them all. In these circumstances, the letter should state the Conservancies in which the properties are located. If the properties are spread over several Conservancies we will accept a single letter of authority, signed by all owners, for that agent to deal with all the properties that they own. In these circumstances it may not be possible to specify the location of individual properties, but if you can give the Conservancies then this makes the authority clearer. Your local FC Scotland Conservancy office can give you further advice and an example letter to follow. Applicant’s details If you are the owner, lessee, agricultural tenant or grazings clerk, please complete this section. Please ensure that you give your full name. If you are the agent acting for the owner or lessee please complete this section on their behalf. We will issue a contract in the names of all ‘Applicants’ named in the application and they will all be required to sign the contract. If there is more than one applicant please include all of the names and use a separate sheet of paper to list them if necessary. The person(s) named in this section must have authority to sign on behalf of the organisation etc and we will require documentary evidence of this with the application. Name Give your title, initials and surname. This is how the name will appear on the contract. Organisation Position If you are applying on behalf of an organisation , please give your position eg woodland manager, company secretary, etc. Address Please give your full address including postcode. Telephone, fax and e-mail Your telephone and fax numbers must include the national dialling code. Give your full e-mail address. 9.14 Version 1: May 2005 If you represent an organisation, enter the name of the organisation. If the application is on behalf of an organisation, company or trust then this is the name that will appear on the contract. www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Neighbour awareness We strongly advise you to discuss woodland planting and felling licence proposals with those neighbours who may be directly affected by them. In some cases we will make this a requirement. Applicants must then record details of any discussions that take place and include them in their application. You should refer to the FC publication ‘How we consult about woodland planting and tree felling’ for more information. Is the land owned by any of the following? This information will help us to ensure that our claim to the European Community for co-financing is correct because we are unable to claim co-financing if the property is owned by an of these bodies. Please note that local authorities are not included within the ‘Government Department’ category. Details of other funding Before we consider your application we need to know whether you are receiving funding from any other sources towards the work in your application. This is because we cannot give grant aid towards work that is being funded by another public body. Farmland Premium applicants must complete 10 to 14 The Farmland Premium Scheme (see Section 7) is run by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) with the joint application form submitted to the Forestry Commission. You will receive your Farmland Premium Scheme payments from SEERAD and your SFGS payments from the Forestry Commission. Landlord’s consent Agricultural Holding Details If you are applying for Farmland Premium on land on which you are the tenant, crofting tenant or grazings clerk, you will need to obtain your landlord’s written consent. A completed landlord’s form should be submitted with your application. Please note that we cannot process your application without this form. You can get a copy from your local Conservancy office. Main Farm Code Number Please give the main farm code number as detailed in your annual IACS submission. If you do not have this then please contact your local SEERAD office. Version 1: May 2005 Farm Code Number for the holding in this application (if different) If the land where the proposed work is to be carried out is different to the main farm code number then please provide the farm code number for the land where the proposed work is to be carried out. Business details Business Name of Applicant Please give the trading name of your business exactly as it appears on your annual IACS submission. This will ensure that your Farmland Premium payment can be made correctly. Business Reference Number Please enter your Business Reference Number as detailed in your annual IACS submission. 9.15 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium How Farmland Premium payments are made Farmland Premium payments will be made directly to your bank or building society using the Bankers Automated Clearing System (BACS). SEERAD will link your application with the existing records held about you on the IACS system. They will not accept a different bank account number for your Farmland Premium agreement from that held on IACS. If SEERAD do not have your BACS details they will ask you to complete a form giving this information. You can obtain this form from your local SEERAD office. Any existing Farm Woodland Premium Scheme or Farmland Premium areas Farming income If more than 25% of your total income is from farming in the UK please put a cross in the “Yes” box; if not, put a cross in the “No” box. This allows us to claim EC co-financing correctly. Please read this section carefully and sign at the bottom of the page. This application can be signed by either the owner, the agent or the owner’s representative (with the appropriate legal authority). Note: Even though you may have completed and sent us this form electronically, we will still require your original signature at this point and so we will require you to provide a printed version that is signed and sent to our local FC Scotland Conservancy office. Version 1: May 2005 Declarations and signature Give details of other land on which you are already claiming FWPS or Farmland Premium. Enter the farm code number and the total area entered in the FWPS or Farmland Premium. 9.16 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Part 3: How to complete the Land Details Form SFGS/FP2 You must complete this form if you are applying for Farmland Premium. We will carry out checks of the details in this application against those held in your IACS records. Column 1 Compartment number Enter the compartment number. Column 2 Field Identifier Number You must give the Field Identifier(s) that are within each compartment area. If a Field Maintenance Request (FMR) has been raised, please clearly show the are to be planted on accompanying maps. Column 3 Land category For each of the compartments in your application tell us which category of land applies. Non Less Favoured Areas – NLFA Less Favoured Area – disadvantaged area – LFA/DA Less Favoured Area – severely disadvantaged area – LFA/SDA If only part of a compartment is affected then please enter the area that is affected. You will have this information on your IACS records. Column 4 Land type For each of the compartments in your application, tell us which land types apply. Arable Land (AL): Land on which an arable crop is growing or has been planted or which is lying fallow as part of a normal crop rotation or set-aside land. Improved Land (IL): land (other than arable land) which consists of land used for grazing where over one third of the sward comprises, singly or in mixture, rye grass, cocksfoot or timothy, or land that has been improved by management practices such as liming and top dressing where there is not a significant presence of sensitive plant species indicative of native unimproved grassland. Version 1: May 2005 Unimproved Land (UL): Unimproved land comprises both rough grazings (land containing semi-natural vegetation including heathland, heather moorland, bog and rough grassland used or suitable for use as grazing) and in-bye land used for grazing or moving that is not normally treated with mineral fertiliser or lime and does not constitute improved grassland. It may be necessary to divide the area of one field into areas comprising different land types (eg IL and UL) if the vegetation changes. If your land is not IACS registered, please write ‘not IACS registered’ across Columns 2, 3 and 4. 9.17 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Column 5 Planting year Column 6 Broadleaf The Planting Year is the year that the trees are to be planted or the year that you expect sufficient regeneration to have occurred. For planting between 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004 this would be 2004. This is because 2004 will be the first growing season for the trees. Give the total broadleaf area in hectares. Give the total conifer area in hectares. Version 1: May 2005 Column 7 Conifer area Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium 9.18 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Part 4: How to complete the Work Proposals Form SFGS/FP3a Name of property Give the same name as on your SFGS/FP1. If submitting this electronically using the Grant Calculator, the name will be populated on all sheets by entering it once into the bottom toolbar of any spreadsheet. Choosing your objective(s) Details about eligibility criteria for each of the grants can be found in the SFGS Applicant’s Booklet or on the Forestry Commission Scotland website at www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland. Please tell us if you also want to carry out any felling or thinning that is not being carried out under an SFGS grant. Supporting information The information you provide in this section should be additional to that provided in your SFGS/FP3b and maps. It should help to describe the work that you intend to carry out and there is no requirement to repeat information that is already on your SFGS/FP3b. Information can be provided as text within this section or, if you prefer, on accompanying map(s), whatever best suits your circumstances. If you are applying for the higher rates (90%) of grants that are available in special areas, you must include justification. Give details of how you propose to manage any grant-aided open ground. If you are using local planting stock, give details of the local provenance. On the electronic version text can be entered into the text box. Although the text box cannot be increased in size, the form does capture all the text you input – even if it scrolls below the size shown on the screen. The advantages of submitting your supporting text in this way means that both parties can edit and confirm changes speedily and it reduces the errors caused by re-keying. Unfortunately, any print of this form will only show the text within the box area and not any additional text. However, please be aware that it is not lost if sent to us electronically! Only complete this section if you intend to use the codes NBL, MB and MC on form SFGS/FP3b. Use the table to give a breakdown of the species to be planted or felled. On the electronic form, there is no ability to add more lines. A separate table will have to be produced and attached alongside your application. Use the species abbreviations shown overleaf. Version 1: May 2005 Details of any mixed species 9.19 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Broadleaves Species Type Code Species Oak Common Grey AR CAR GAR Alder Code Pedunculate Red Sessile OK POK ROK SOK Ash AH Aspen ASP Poplar PO Beech BE Rowan ROW Birch BI PBI SBI Sweet Chestnut SC Sycamore SY Downy Silver Conifers Type Goat Cricket Bat WL GWL CWL HAZ Native Mixed Broadleaves NBL Hornbeam HBM Mixed Broadleaves MB Lime Woody Shrubs WSH Small leaved LI SLI Maple Field Norway FM NOM Species Type Code Species Type Code Cedar Western Red RC Spruce Cypress Lawson LC Norway Sitka NS SS Douglas Fir DF Grand Noble Cherry WCH Elm EM Hazel Larch Pine Willow Other Broadleaves not in this list XB Western Hemlock WH GF NF Yew YEW Mixed Conifers MC European Hybrid Japanese EL HL JL Other Conifers not in this list XC Open Ground OG Corsican Lodgepole Scots Scots Caledonian CP LP SP SPC Version 1: May 2005 . 9.20 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Part 5: How to complete the Grant Details of Expansion, Stewardship and Restocking Form SFGS/FP3b Column 1 Compartment number Enter the compartment number or ‘ALL’ if the operation is a ‘whole scheme; operation (see Tip 1 below). For entry of WIAT details, please refer to the detailed note shown in the next section ‘Completing the Electronic Grant Calculator’. Important Tip 1: For some operations and activities we only need to capture details against the scheme, rather than a specific sub-compartment. These are referred to as ‘whole scheme’ operations and generally affect two or more compartments/subcompartments but may not affect all compartments. Examples include preparing a management plan, fencing and deer control. You can see a full list of these activities in Part 7: Whole Scheme Operations (see page 9.29). This means that you only need to enter these once by putting ‘All’ in the cpt column and use one line for each operation. Where there are different percentage rates of grant involved due to different SFGS objectives and/or the work will be carried out in different financial years, then the operation attributable to these need to be summarised on separate lines. Column 2 Sub compartment letter Column 3 Area Column 4 Planting Year Enter the sub-compartment letter Important Tip 2: A compartment is generally identified as a distinct block of (proposed) woodland which has a boundary that is usually site specific. A sub-compartment is generally identified as a distinct component(s) of a compartment which has a boundary that is silviculturally specific (ie: species, age, land-use/site objective). Enter the compartment/sub-compartment area in hectares. You can give this to 2 decimal places. The Planting Year is the year that: • the trees were planted; or • the trees are to be planed; or • the year that you expect sufficient regeneration to have occurred (normally year 5). Version 1: May 2005 For planting between 1 October 2005 to 30 September 2006 this would be 2006. This is because 2006 will be the first growing season for the trees. 9.21 Column 5 Objective Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Use an abbreviation from the list below to indicate which of the SFGS objectives your proposals are designed to meet. Establishment grants P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Restocking grants R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Column 6 Operation Column 7 Operation reference number 9.22 Establishing well-designed productive forest Expanding the area of native woodland Improving riparian habitat Improving the quality and setting of urban or postindustrial areas Improving the diversity of the farmed/crofting landscape Producing well designed productive forest Restoring areas of native woodland Improving riparian habitat Improving the quality and setting of urban or postindustrial areas Improving the diversity of the farmed/crofting landscape Stewardship grants S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 Improving timber quality Reducing deer numbers Native woodlands Improving woodland biodiversity Landscape improvement Developing alternative systems to clear-felling Woodland recreation Developing community involvement Felling Fl F2 F3 F4 Clear-felling Selective felling Continuous cover Thinning Other land 0 Not grant aided. The inclusion of other land can help to explain your proposals Using a separate line for each operation, list the work that you are proposing to carry out. You can find the eligible operations in the relevant section for each grant. Include details of any felling or thinning operations that are not going to receive grant so that we can give approval for these and issue a licence. Standard descriptions will appear in the contract text for these operations. Please enter the reference number of each operation as found in the relevant section for each grant. This is a unique number and corresponds to the relevant standard cost. Failure to use the correct reference number may cause your grant application to be delayed or returned. When you carry out the work you will be expected to meet the detailed eligibility criteria of each objective. Version 1: May 2005 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Column 8 Species For planting operations associated with establishment and restocking (eg: ground preparation and felling), please enter the species. Column 9 Area For planting operations associated with establishment and restocking (eg: ground preparation and felling), please enter the area for each species. Column 10 Stocking density Column 11 Quantity and Unit For planting operations associated with establishment and restocking, enter the stocking density that you expect to achieve for each species at year 5. This must be at least the minimum density requirement at year 5 as detailed within each expansion grant. For planting operations associated with establishment and restocking, multiply the Area (col 9) by the Stocking (col 10) then divide by 1000; ie Area x Stocking density 1000 For all other operations enter the quantity of work that you will be carrying out, or the number of items included in your costs. Also enter the type of unit (eg metre, hectare, per 1000, each) as used in the Standard Costs. When we assess your application we will accurately check that these measurements are consistent with those shown on your map. Column 12 Percentage rate Version 1: May 2005 Column 13 Payment rate Enter the percentage rate of 60% or 90%. Please note that the column should be left blank for open ground, regeneration, short rotation coppice and compensation for loss of grazing income. Enter the cost shown in either the 60% or 90% column in the Standard Costs list. Column 14 No of Years If you will be carrying Deer Control (reference 200), then please enter the total number of years (normally 10) that you will be carrying out the work. Column 15 Total grant To calculate the total grant, multiply the figure in column 11 (Quantity) by the figure in column 13 (payment rate). If you are applying for Deer Control, you must then multiply your answer by the figure in column 14 (number of years). ie: Quantity x Payment rate (x Number of Years, if appropriate) Column 16 First Claim Year Enter the financial year (1st April to 31st March) in which you will claim grant. Use the format 05/06 (1st April 2005 to 31st March 2006). If you are applying for Deer Control, enter the first year you will claim grant. 9.23 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Please note that you must have carried out the work before you can claim grant. You should submit your claim by the end of February in the claim year that we have agreed in order to give us time to process your claim. Version 1: May 2005 If you are unable or do not intend to carry out the works in the stipulated financial year, please tell us so that we can amend your contract. Your assistance here will also allow us to ensure we maintain a true record of grant funds available. 9.24 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Part 6: Completing the Grant Calculator To help you apply for SFGS we have developed a Grant Calculator (GC) which works out the total grant for the operations you want to do. The GC is a customised Excel spreadsheet of the form SFGS/FP3b and also contains the suite of other application forms SFGS/FP1, 2 and 3a. The key feature of the GC is that it is based on the unique reference number for the operation. How the Grant Calculator works Cells Version 1: May 2005 As you use the GC, you will find that cells in the excel spreadsheet will turn different colours. These colours will guide you through the spreadsheet. Colour Description Yellow: You are required to enter data into yellow cells. Grey: Please do not enter data into grey cells as they will be filled automatically. If you try, you will get a message telling you that the cell is ‘password protected’. Blue: When you click on yellow cells they will turn blue to denote that this is the current cell to be completed. Red: Any cells that require data and that you have not populated will be highlighted in red. It is essential that these are completed. If they remain uncompleted a message will appear when you try to save the sheet. Forms with incomplete data will normally be returned to you and may cause a delay in your application. 9.25 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Bottom Toolbar The toolbar at the bottom of the spreadsheet will allow you to: • Insert Row – place cursor on any cell of the row where you want to insert and click on ‘Insert Row’ in toolbar. • Delete Row – place cursor on any cell on the row you want to delete and click on ‘Delete Row’ in toolbar. • Copy Row – place cursor on any cell on the row you want to copy and click ‘Copy Row’ in toolbar. Additional Options Within the ‘Additional Options’ the following functions are available: • Sort Data Rows: By clicking on the selected option available, the entered lines within the grant calculator can be presented in different ‘sort’ orders. You can return to the original order at any time prior to saving the document. • Copy Spreadsheet: This function allows you to copy the entire spreadsheet onto another workbook for your own analysis. The copy cannot be accepted by FC Scotland as an application. • Summarise Spreadsheet: This displays a cashflow breakdown for each of the financial years. This can also be activated by pressing the ‘blue information’ icon on the bottom toolbar next to the grant total. To complete the GC please use the following steps: Step 9.26 Description 1 Download the most up to date version of the GC from our website. Please note that you should not open the GC from the internet but download and save it to your PC. Open the excel spreadsheet and click on ‘enables macros’. For more recent versions of Excel, the sheet will open automatically. 2 Enter ‘Property Name’ in the bottom toolbar and press return key. This must be the same as you have used on the other application forms. 3 For some operations we require details to be recorded against the scheme, rather than a specific sub-compartment. These are referred to as ‘whole scheme’ operations and generally affect two or more sub-compartments but may not affect all subcompartments. You can see a full list of these activities in Section 9 of the SFGS Applicants Booklet. This means that you should enter these once in each application by putting ‘ALL’ in the compartment column (Column 1). You still need to indicate on your application map where these operations are being carried out. For all other operations a compartment number and sub-compartment letter should be entered. 4 In column 2 enter the sub-compartment letter. 5 In column 3 enter the sub-compartment area in hectares to two decimal places. 6 Enter the Operation reference number in column 7 as found in the SFGS Standard Costs (February 2005) document available from our web page or from the SFGS Applicant Booklet. Version 1: May 2005 How to complete the Grant Calculator www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Step Version 1: May 2005 WIAT Challenge Fund Description 7 For Establishment operations and those operations that involve removing trees (felling, respacing, etc) you will have to enter the planting year in column 4. The planting year is the year that: • The trees were planted; or • The trees are to be planted; or • The year that you expect sufficient regeneration to have occurred (normally year 5). 8 For Establishment operations (with the exception of Open Ground) and those operations that involve removing trees you will have to enter the tree species in column 8. A table will automatically be produced providing abbreviations of appropriate species should the correct abbreviation not be entered. 9 For certain Establishment and Ground Preparation operations, the areas and stocking densities should be entered in columns 9 and 10. The area cannot be greater that entered in column 3. The stocking density must be at least the minimum density required at year 5 as detailed in the SFGS Applicants Booklet. 10 The quantity of work should be entered in column 11. When we assess your application we will accurately check these measurements from your accompanying map. Area quantities cannot be greater than an area entered in column 3. 11 For those operations where 90% rate is an option and is to be applied for, you will be guided to change the rate from 60% to 90% at column 12. 12 For Deer Control (Operation reference number 200), Predator Control (333 and 443) and Community Involvement (800 and 801) you will be asked to enter the actual rate as agreed with the local FC Scotland Conservancy Office. The maximum amounts allowed under the grant rules have been built into the sheet. You should enter the cost once the appropriate 60% or 90% rate has been applied. 13 If you will be carrying out Deer Control (Operation reference number 200) over the same area in consecutive years, please enter the total number of years (In most cases this will be 10) that you will be carrying out the work. The total grant in column 15 will be for the number of years stated. 14 Enter the financial year (1st April to 31st March) in which you will claim grant. Use the format 05/06 (1st April 2005 to 31st March 2006). For example, entering 5 will default data to 05/06. If you are applying for Deer Control, or if you are establishing a new woodland by planting, enter the first year that you will claim grant. 15 Save the file before closing using the Property name as the file name. 16 Once you have completed your application, please e-mail the completed SFGS/FP3b to your local Conservancy office or send a copy on a CD or disk. Please do not forget to send a signed copy of the other application forms and all application maps to the appropriate Conservancy office by post. 17 Other Land. Areas of non-grant aided land within the scheme boundary should be identified on the spreadsheet by entering it as ‘other land’ using reference ‘0’ in column 7 (ie zero, not the letter O).The inclusion of ‘other land’ helps to explain the proposals. The GC can also be used for applying for the WIAT Challenge Fund. The WIAT Challenge Fund offers money in addition to the normal SFGS grants. This additional money is available as a ‘top-up’. Where funding from other sources is also available this should be taken into account for the ‘top-up’ and only the net amount required from FC Scotland be entered into the GC. Where funding is available from other sources the amounts should be described as part of the application text. 9.27 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Top-up existing SFGS operations • Enter the SFGS operations as normal and the calculator will calculate the grant total. • Enter ‘WIAT’ into column 1 in the next line, and then enter the operation code (column 7) as before. You will then be taken straight to the grant total column and you can enter the amount for that financial year that you believe is required in addition to the SFGS total. • This amount, together with your written justifications, will be the basis of the FC Scotland’s judging and approval of your application. Other Operations The WIAT challenge fund also allows you to claim grant against ‘additional’ operations, activities that are not included in the SFGS list of Standard Costs. • Decide which Stewardship objective best represented the operations you wish to carry out. • Enter ‘WIAT’ into column 1 and then enter the WIAT code that represents your chosen objective: Objective: S1 Op ref number: 190 Objective: S5 Op ref number: 590 Objective: S3 Op ref number: 390 Objective: S6 Op ref number: 690 Objective: S4 Op ref number: 490 Objective: S7 Op ref number: 790 You will then be taken to the cell where you can overtype with a brief description of the actual works/activity/costs you wish to apply for. You will then be taken straight to the grant total column and you can enter the amount for that financial year that you believe is required. This amount, together with your written justifications, will be the basis of the FC Scotland’s judging and approval of your application. Please send the completed GC to your local FC Scotland Conservancy office by e-mail using the following e-mail addresses: Highland: Grampian: Perth and Argyll: Central Scotland: South Scotland: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Version 1: May 2005 Where to send the completed Grant Calculator 9.28 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Part 7: Whole Scheme Operations Version 1: May 2005 Look up Ref No. Operation 15 558 Vegetation Management Ride management Grass cutting in recreational areas 32 Deer Control Reducing deer numbers 148 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Management Planning and Monitoring Surveys Archaeological survey Management plan for native woodland/biodiversity improvement Survey for woodland condition Monitoring: Native woodland/biodiversity Landscape design plan Landscape survey Landscape monitoring CCF: Site survey and stand appraisal Management plan to develop CCF CCF: Monitoring CCF: Stand appraisal Recreation area management plan 44 45 559 149 Mammal Control Rabbit control Squirrel catch traps Grey squirrel control for red squirrel conservation using catch traps Predator control 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 55 56 59 60 62 63 64 65 66 Protection Operations and Fence Line Re-alignment Operations Conversion of deer fence to stock Stock fence removal Deer fence removal Stock fencing Stock fencing with deer strainer posts Rabbit proofing existing stock or deer fence Stock and rabbit fencing Deer fencing – light specification Deer fencing – heavy specification Upgrade stock to deer fence New deer fence (Caper core areas): Full height woodwork New deer fence (Caper core areas): Half length woodwork Fence upgrade Marking fence line Modify existing deer fence (Capercaillie core areas): half length woodwork @ 30cm Modify existing deer fence (Capercaillie core areas): half length woodwork @ 15cm 9.29 Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium 67 9.30 71 72 73 74 Modify existing deer fence (Capercaillie core areas): full length woodwork Dyke upgrade Hanging watergate >6m span Hanging watergate 3 - 6m span Badger gate 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 152 115 116 117 118 119 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 141 142 Public Access Footpath construction: cut and fill 1.2m wide Footpath construction: built and rolled 1.2m wide Footpath construction: built and rolled 1.6m wide Footpath construction: short sections/gabion barriers Footpath upgrading Kissing gate for walkers Large kissing gate for disabled use/horse access 2 step cross over stile Ladder stile Wooden railed fencing A4 leaflets A3 leaflets Waymarkers Threshold sign Primary sign A3 interpretative sign A1 interpretative sign Interpretative sign mounted on lectern Picnic bench with table Picnic bench with back rest Picnic bench without back rest Footbridge with wooden beams Footbridge with steel beams Boardwalk Litter removal Safety inspection Fell: dangerous large tree (easy take down) Fell: dangerous large tree (difficult take down) Fell and extract: dangerous large tree (easy take down) Fell and extract: dangerous large tree (difficult take down) Supply and erection of people counter Car park construction 143 144 145 Labour Rates Forest craftsman rates Forest craftsman plus chainsaw Tree surgery: Two man qualified team 501 502 Community Involvement Feasibility assessment Training/on-going community involvement Version 1: May 2005 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Part 8: Example of Application Form SFGS/FP3b and Woodland Map This example shows how the information should be shown on the SFGS/FP3b form (in this example, the Grant Calculator) and also on the map. It is important that details on the SFGS/FP3b and the map are consistent with each other. It should be noted that the map below is reproduced for demonstration purposes and may not accurately represent the scales of maps we would normally accept. 295900 296000 296100 296200 296300 296400 296500 296600 296700 296800 296900 664000 664000 664100 295800 664100 295700 663900 663900 a a 663800 c a b 663700 A West Foulshiels 2 c B 663600 d Legend b e Hinge Mounding 5105 Ground Prep Deer Fence 5011 (A-B) Continuous Mounding 5104 Deer Fence 5007 (B-C) b C Compartment body d 663500 663600 b 1 Scheme Boundary Management Plan 663500 663700 b Scale - 1:5000 © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Forestry Commission. 100025498. 2005. Blacklaws 295700 295800 295900 296000 296100 296200 296300 296400 296500 296600 296700 296800 663400 Sub-cpt bdys 663400 Version 1: May 2005 663800 c 296900 9.31 www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Section 9: How to Apply to the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme and Farmland Premium Note 4: Applicant’s Charter Forestry Commission Scotland is committed to provide a good customer service and our standards for dealing with SFGS applications are set out in our ‘Applicants Charter’ below. Charter times for dealing with SFGS applications and amendments We will: • Acknowledge receipt of your application within three working days. • Tell you the name of the person dealing with it. • Contact you within two weeks of receiving your application if we need more information to help us register it, and tell you what we need. • Contact you beforehand if we need to visit the woodland site. • We will send you a draft contract within 11 weeks of registering your application unless we have told you it will take longer. This may happen if there are major issues to resolve. Details of our consultation procedures can be found in the booklet ‘How we consult about woodland Planting and Tree Felling’. Notes: If we ask you for further information, the time you take to provide this is not counted as part of our Charter time. Please try to respond to our queries and correspondence as soon as possible. Applications for Challenge funded projects are handled according to the timetable set out in the relevant leaflet. Your claim for grant • We will contact you within two weeks of receipt if we need further information and to arrange an inspection if required. • We will try to pay a satisfactory claim within four weeks of getting your claim. If we cannot do this we will let you know when we can pay you. • If we are not satisfied with the work we may refuse or reclaim grant, but we will give you the opportunity to put things right, if this is possible. How to complain 9.32 If you are not satisfied with the way we have handled your application, grant claim or amendment, you should talk to the Conservator at your local Conservancy office. If the difficulty remains unresolved, you should contact the Director for Scotland, Dr Bob McIntosh. If you still consider that your complaint has not been satisfactorily dealt with you can ask the matter to be considered by the appropriate non-executive Forestry Commissioner. Version 1: May 2005 You can appeal against our decision to refuse or reclaim grant if you disagree with our decision about the work. Your contract gives you the right to ask for an independent arbitrator to decide. Condition 19 of the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme contract conditions tells you more about this.
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