Woodland Creation application guidance

Consider your management objectives

Within the context of the UKFS, the first stage of developing a proposal is to clarify the short and long term objectives for the proposed forest.

These will inform the remainder of the process and may, for example, include:

• carbon sequestration
• future revenue generation
• capital appreciation
• recreational areas
• improving biodiversity

See pages 10-11 of the ‘Design techniques for forest management planning’ practice guide. This is available to download from the Scottish Forestry website.

Design Techniques for Forest Management - A Practice Guide

Consider what information is available and identify any new requirements

Applicants are expected to collect and provide information about the land proposed for tree planting. The relevance and degree of detail will depend on the context of the woodland.

Assessments should include appropriate aspects of:

• biodiversity
• historic environment
• landscape
• site designations
• public access

It is recommended that applications summarise:

• survey data , such as aerial photographs
• soil
• wayleaves
• habitat surveys

The source and date of surveys should be recorded as well as where any full survey data is kept.

Any supporting information may needed to be shared later either with us or stakeholders in order to inform their consideration of the proposal.

If there are designated sites or features that influence woodland creation proposals, additional information may be required; these could include:

• historic environment
• biodiversity
• landscape
• water environment
• other interests

See pages 12-13 of the ‘Design techniques for forest management planning’ practice guide. Table 1 below provides an indication of the topics you should cover. 

Applicants considering grant support should also be familiar with the eligibility requirements and scheme rules.

Woodland Creation Grant

Create an Issues Log

Applicants should start producing an “issues log” at this early stage of the process.

The Issues log will help to create a record of the journey through the application process, including considerations and any actions taken. A concept map that complements the issues log may prove useful.

Please refer to Appendix 3 of this guidance for an example issues log. 

A partially completed issues log can provide a basis for stakeholder engagement and discussions with us on the appropriate next steps. 

The issues log can also help to simplify the process.

For example, where a number of stakeholders raise the same issue, that issue only needs to be included once in the log, together with a summary of the actions and decisions made and the response to the specific issue. 

When producing an issues log, consider how to record personal information in accordance with data protection laws such including the Data Protection Act 2018 and the assimilated law version of the General Data Protection Regulation as it forms part of the law of Scotland. 

Data Protection Act 2018 (leglisaltion.gov.uk)

This should be considered as an issues log may be shared with third parties during the development of a proposal. The use of additional Scottish Forestry guidance and associated forms will assist in minimizing the collection for personal information and reduce need for redaction at later stages of the process. 

Applicants should summarise the position reached at the end of step 1.1

A summary of this data will provide the information required for different purposes:

• to provide a base line to consider the objectives for the site and realistic opportunities
• to provide basic information for discussion with Scottish Forestry
• to inform what additional information, if any, may be required to produce a woodland creation grant application or for EIA screening
• to provide a basis for discussions with stakeholders