Annex 4. Summary of responses to the CYC Funders’ Questionnaire

 

Funder

Funding rate

Eligibility criteria

Eligible

features

Ownership and control

CYC income

Mainten-ance

Carbon Offset

Timescales

CYC Key Risks

WRF Trees for Climate (via Cheshire West)

100% of costs (up to circa £15k-£20k p/ha cap)

Min 0.1 ha / Max 40% open space / Carbon / Biodiversity / Public access and engagement

 

Trees and protection / Surveys and planning / Access and interpretation / Signage / Open space / Infrastructure / Project delivery / Future management

 

CYC retains ownership and full control

Potential on-site income generation built into woodland design (TBC)

100% funded up to 15yrs

100% retained by CYC

Competitive bids. EoI submitted Nov 2020 - Decision pending. 

WRF can meet 2021/22 planting season

Funding / Delivery / Procurement / Income generation / Long term management

Forestry Commission – England Woodland Creation Offer

100% (£8,500 p/ha cap)

Min 1 ha /

Native broadleaf /

Public access

Trees and protection / Infrastructure like roads and tracks at 40% of quoted costs / Recreational access.[1]  Separate grant process (WCPG) for surveys and planning support

 

CYC retains ownership and full control

Potential on-site income generation built into woodland design (TBC)

100% funded for 10yrs

100% retained by CYC

Competitive bids following WCPG Stage 2 and woodland approval –

 

Question mark re. meeting 2021/22 planting season

 

Funding / Delivery / Procurement / Income generation / Long term management

Forestry Commission Countryside Stewardship

 

80% if 20% open space included (£6,800 p/ha cap)

 

3 ha / Min 80% native broadleaf / Max 20% open space / Biodiversity / Water

 

Trees and protection up to unit cost cap. Separate grant process (WCPG) for surveys and planning

CYC retains ownership and full control

Potential on-site income generation built into woodland design (TBC)

None for LAs

100% retained by CYC

Competitive bids following WCPG Stage 2 and woodland approval

Question mark re. meeting 2021/22 planting season

 

Funding / Delivery / Procurement / Income generation / Short and long term management

Forestry England – Woodland Partnership Offer

100%

Min 50 ha / Min 70% native broadleaf / Carbon /  Biodiversity / Public access[2]

Trees and protection / Surveys and protection / Access and signage  / Infrastructure Wood meadow / Open space / Wet woodland

 

Leased to FE for 60 -120yrs (negotiable)

Annual FE grant paid to CYC between £200-£400 per/ha (negotiable)

Duration of lease (min 60yrs)

Negotiable up to 100% retained by CYC

Competitive bidding. EoI submitted 01.06.21 Decision pending. ‘Can meet 2021/22 planting season’

 

Majority of risks transferred to FE

               

 

NB. The questionnaire was sent to Woodland Trust alongside other funders, but the Trust had not responded by the deadline so they could not be considered within this report. After speaking with industry experts, it appears Woodland Trust has yet to finalise the details of their capital grant programme and this may explain why no response was received.

 

CYC officers also held informal discussions with a private sector forestry consultant offering to take direct responsibility for woodland design, creation and ongoing management in return for a long term lease on the land for which CYC would receive annual rental income. The offer involved the consultant applying for one of the capital grant funding opportunities listed in this assessment on behalf of the landowner and for that reason the offer has not been included in this assessment. The offer is similar in nature to the Forestry England WCO, though with potentially higher annual rental payments (negotiable) to CYC. 

 

Green Recovery Challenge Fund: An opportunity arose in September 2020 to apply for funding from the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund up to a total value of £250,000 and, as previously advised, a funding application was submitted by the deadline 2 October 2020. CYC was informed by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) on 3 November 2020 that this application had been unsuccessful.

 

A further application was made during Round 2 of the fund earlier this year, though this too was unsuccessful. Whilst the HLF don’t provide formal feedback, an informal conversation with them suggested they felt the YCW project was better suited to other, more dedicated woodland creation funding streams.

 


[1] There are additional contributions available for projects that deliver Nature recovery / Water quality / Flood risk / Riparian buffers / Close to settlements

[2] Forestry England indicate they are ‘open to discussion with partners about inclusion of additional features and would be expected to be involved in ongoing community engagement and volunteering opportunities’