Confor welcomes news on year-round applications

The system of "application windows" for the Woodland Creation Grant has long been identified as a barrier to afforestation by the industry, as it limited the opportunities to put forward new planting schemes.  

Confor has been pressing for two years for the windows to be closed and for rolling applications to be allowed. 

Now, Forestry Commission England and Defra have announced that applications for Woodland Creation Grants can be made all year round. 

Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of Confor, said:  “I strongly welcome this as Confor members had identified the need to do away with a short application window if Government was to drive up new planting.  

"We first asked for this nearly two years ago and it has taken longer than we’d have liked to introduce but it is good that Government is at least responding to our asks and taking action” 

Full details of the scheme and how to apply can be found here.