The Woodland Restoration Scheme (WRS) is based on the Glastir Scheme which was part of the Rural Development Programme. The budget available for this Expression of Interest (EOI) window is £1 Million. This window will open on 16 December 2022 and close at midnight on 2February 2023.
This Expression of Interest is available to successful applicants who will be able to complete all capital works and planting by 31 March 2024.
You may submit a WRS Expression of Interest (EOI) if you have been issued with a felling licence, a felling licence application number or a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) containing Larch.
You must submit your felling licence, felling licence application with number or SPHN with your EOI on or before 2 February 2023 for assessment by the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government will not consider any documentation submitted in support of any EOI’s submitted under an historic Glastir Woodland Restoration scheme Window. Failure to do so will result in land parcels being rejected.
WRS provides capital works for restocking, fencing and associated operations on sites where there is larch and up to 50% non-larch species.
For this WRS window, mixed woodland categories have been updated to require a more diverse species mix. The maximum % of a single species will be reduced to 65% for Options W615, W618 and W619. This is important for helping forests develop resilience to future threats such as tree disease. The change is in line with the proposed updated content of the UK Forestry Standard, which is due to be published in spring 2023.
To be eligible for support to replant your woodlands, you must submit a forest management plan for the eligible area to be restocked.
Further information and how to apply can be found here: https://www.gov.wales/woodland-restoration-scheme