It’s an exciting day here at Future Woodlands Scotland. We’re announcing the next phase of the £2m ‘Future Woodlands Fund’ pilot scheme to make it easier for farmers and other land managers in Scotland to plant native woodland.

New to the scheme are three options – upfront area payments for small woods, carbon ownership and ghost woodlands. The scheme’s original annual payments option has been increased to £3,500 per hectare over 20 years, to provide extra incentive for the creation of new woodlands.

Any land manager in Scotland can apply to the fund provided their proposed project is between 3 and 100 hectares and meets the essential criteria.

Helping Scotland meet its biodiversity and climate commitments

Tim Hall, Chair of Future Woodlands Scotland, said: “Interest in native woodland regeneration is increasing but many farmers and land managers still worry about the upfront costs of planting woodlands. Providing them with a range of options will mean they can choose what’s best for their business. This will be good for both farming and wildlife, while helping Scotland meet its biodiversity and climate commitments. I urge anyone thinking about creating native woodland to apply today.”

Developed following feedback from land managers, farmers and industry professionals, the new range of options addresses demand for differing levels of support and retaining carbon units arising from the woodlands.   

Through the fund, land managers will now be able to apply for up to £3,500 per hectare spread over 20 years if they choose the annual payment option. An upfront area payment option for smaller woodlands has been introduced to help ease cashflow at implementation.

A new carbon ownership option

A new, carbon unit ownership option gives land managers the option to keep any carbon units arising from their woodland as an investment or to offset their own land-based emissions.

Another option is to restore ‘ghost’ or derelict native woodlands with high ecological value. Ghost woodlands are relics of old or ancient woodlands, where less than 20% of the canopy cover remains.

Creating a new native woodland will come at a much-reduced cost to the land manager. Working alongside the established Scottish Government’s Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS), the fund will cover the cost of site assessments, Woodland Carbon Code validation and free access to a Professional Forestry Agent to draw up the Forestry Grant Scheme application.

The Future Woodlands Fund has been made possible by £2m of support from energy company, bp.  

Tim said: “By working with businesses and organisations, Future Woodlands Scotland aims to enhance Scotland’s biodiversity through projects that would not otherwise be possible. We are grateful to bp for their support in investing in our efforts to create lasting change.”

Giles Mackey, Senior Manager for HSE and Carbon at bp North Sea said: “bp is proud of our long-standing relationship with the charity and more than two decades supporting the regeneration of native woodlands in Scotland. The purpose of this partnership is to help Future Woodlands Scotland to develop new and innovative schemes to enhance and protect Scotland’s native woodlands. bp is working hard to become a net zero company by 2050 and to help the communities we work in achieve their sustainability goals. All carbon credits generated by this scheme will therefore belong to the landowner or to Future Woodlands Scotland to re-invest in future projects and help Scotland reach its net zero targets.”