Deadline: 13-Nov-22
The Seed Sourcing Grant (SSG) is now open for applications to provide support for activities that enhance the quality, quantity, and diversity of tree seed sources in England.
The SSG is looking to support projects that will increase the quality, quantity, and diversity of seed stands and seed orchards on the Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) National Register for Basic Material.
The Government has renewed commitment to net zero targets, and the SSG will help to ensure the availability of planting stock to meet these targets.
Funding Information
- Through the SSG, £1.2 million will be made available between 2022/23 and 2024/25 to support activities designed to enhance the quality, quantity, and diversity of tree seed sources in England. Up to £400,000 will be made available in each financial year.
- Proposals for projects spanning multiple financial years will be accepted and all project activities must be completed and invoiced by March 2025. Projects, whether single or multi-year, must have a minimum total cost of £10,000 to be eligible for funding under the SSG. Applicants may submit more than one bid during each funding round, but each lead applicant may only apply for a maximum of £75,000 per annum, across all their bids.
Eligible Activities
- Management of existing seed stands, to ensure they are productive for seed collectors. Seed stands must either already be registered on the National Register of Basic Material or should be registered on the National Register of Basic Material as part of the proposed project. This may include bringing current Source Identified (SI) seed sources under management and registering them as a seed stand as part of the project. These must be time-bound rather than ongoing activities.
- Desk studies and field studies to identify and bring additional seed stands onto the National Register of Basic Material.
- Planning and planting of new seed stands, and their registration on the National Register of Basic Material.
- Planning and planting of new seed orchards and their registration on the National Register of Basic Material.
To be eligible for funding:
- The project proposal must be relevant to the production of tree seed from species covered by the UK FRM scheme (including those in the voluntary scheme)
- The seed stand or seed orchard must be in England
- The work to be funded must not have commenced
- Activities must be associated with an eligible FRM category
Eligibility Criteria
- The SSG is open to any UK-based public, private, or third sector organisation that can demonstrate how the grant will be used to enhance the quality, quantity, and diversity of English seed stands and seed orchards. Individual private landowners may also apply for eligible activities on their own land. Joint applications are also acceptable, and any partners should be listed in the application form.
- The following groups are identified as potential applicants to the SSG:
- Public and private sector tree nurseries and tree seed suppliers
- Research institutes including public sector research establishments
- Landowners including private and public landowners and NGOs
- NGO’s working on tree improvement and other aspects of seed and tree production
- Forestry England (FE) and Forest Research (FR) are not eligible for grant funding under the SSG but may be subcontracted on behalf of eligible organisations to complete SSG related work packages.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/seed-sourcing-grant