Free Woodland Advice
We are currently offering FREE Introductory woodland advice on the management of your woodland and removing conifers to enable the restoration of ancient woodlands. We are also able to conduct free advisory visits to woodland properties.
Grants
The Forestry Commission administers a range of grants for managing woodlands and creating new ones through the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS). A special Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) for 80% funding is available for ancient woodlands in the High Weald AONB.
To be eligible for the EWGS your land will need to be registered on the Rural Land Registry (RLR). The Forestry Commission website provides guidance on the RLR for woodland owners.
Regulations
You need to be aware of some of the regulations that are relevant to woodland management. e.g. A felling licence from the Forestry Commission may be required for undertaking tree felling work. It is best to check with your local FC office before starting work.
The European Habitat Regulations also need to be considered in relation to protected species in woodland.
Key contacts
- Woodlots - information on buying and selling woodland products and services in Kent, Sussex, Surrey & Hampshire
- Royal Forestry Society - draws people from across the tree and woodlands sectors and run a series of excellent field meetings in the region through the summer months.
- Institute of Chartered Foresters - the professional body for forestry in the UK.
- Sussex and Surrey Coppice Group - a membership group for those involved in coppice management in Sussex & Surrey.
- Forestry Contractors Association - contact details for forestry contractors and other useful information.
- Continuous Cover Forestry Group - professional foresters committed to furthering this type of woodland management in the UK. Continuous cover forestry (CCF) is a method of woodland management that avoids clearfelling through the use of alternative silvicultural systems that involve less dramatic interventions.