Deadline: 15-Jul-22
Are you a landowner and/or have full management control of land? Are you looking to improve, manage or create new woodlands? Can your project promote community involvement? For example, through the planning and provision of footpaths, nature trails, or sculptures? Do you require a grant from £40,000 to £250,000? If you answered yes to these questions, then the Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG) scheme is for you.
The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG) is a new program for landowners to create woodlands for local communities to use and enjoy, as part of the National Forest initiative.
What TWIG offers?
The scheme will offer:
- grants of £40,000 to £250,000 for woodland projects (exceptional projects costing more than £250,000 may also be considered)
- up to 100% funding
- up to two years to deliver the project
- capital and revenue funding
- large, ambitious and complex projects can use TWIG funding with other Welsh Government grants, as well as other sources of complimentary public and private funding
- a maximum of one TWIG grant per site at any one time (you can make more than one application)
- advice and support from Woodland Liaison Officers to plan your project.
What are they looking for?
Your project should:
- restore, enhance and/or create woodlands
- deliver accessible woodlands for all to enjoy
- Create a woodland with a plan for future maintenance. Post-project, a single payment to cover five years of maintenance can be included in your grant application. In order to claim this money, you will be required to submit a detailed management plan for the site, on completion of the project.
- Meet the needs of local people as a public space and contribute to ecosystem services within the local area. For example, addressing biodiversity loss and creating local jobs.
- demonstrate multiple benefits spanning environmental, social, economic and cultural wellbeing
- consider Natural Resources Wales (NRW) area statement maps, UK Forestry Standard guidance and the Woodland Opportunity Map 2021 for guidance on the likely sensitivities on a proposed site for new planting
They have a particular interest in:
- urban areas that lack green space
- areas that will enable connected nature networks across the length and breadth of Wales
- The woodland area must be working towards achieving National Forest outcomes. There are no limits to the size or arrangement of areas of trees to be planted.
New plantings could be:
- developing and creating new large woodlands
- urban tree planting
- creating or improving community involvement in, and access to, a woodland
- a broad corridor of hedgerow or woods to link two existing woodlands
- complex, ambitious planting projects that span two years
Improvements to existing woodland could be:
- the adoption of a woodland by the local community
- thinning
- installation of footpaths
- maintenance of degraded access facilities in heavily-used community woodlands
For all projects, Forest Management Plans are required. If these are not already in place, then the grant can cover the costs of preparing a detailed long-term management plan. However, a basic plan must be submitted with your application. Refer to ‘Actions to take before you apply’ for more information.
As part of the National Forest initiative, there are three additional themes. Applicants should describe how the project will contribute to at least one of these themes:
- climate change mitigation and adaptation
- supporting tourism and the economy
- supporting or delivering skills and training
Eligibility Criteria
The scheme is open to any landowners/managers including not-for-profit organizations and private owners. This is provided that you have the right permissions, licenses and consents in place to undertake activity.
For more information, visit https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding/the-woodland-investment-grant
