The Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) provided incentives for people to create and manage woodlands on sites all over Great Britain. The Forestry Commission (now Scottish Forestry) paid grants for establishing and looking after woodlands and forests. To qualify for grant the applicant had to meet the standards of environmental protection and practice set out in the Forestry Commission’s guidelines at that time. WGS1 operated between June 1988 and June 1991. Updates to scheme boundaries and grant aided areas were incorporated into the dataset on a regular basis until the end of 2004. No further changes will be made after this time.

This option aims to provide support for the creation of a long-term forest plan that sets out the management objectives for private woodlands. This is for the long-term management of woodlands over 10 to 20 years and is aimed at (but not limited to) woodlands of 100 hectares or more in size.

Scotland’s woodlands and forests are a vital national resource and play an important role in rural development and sustainable land use. As well as helping to reduce the impacts of climate change and providing timber for industry, our forests enhance and protect the environment and provide opportunities for public enjoyment. The Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) will support: - the creation of new woodlands, contributing towards the Scottish Government target of over 10,000 hectares of new woodlands per year - the sustainable management of existing woodlands WIG WIAT FOOTPATHS ==================== This option aims to provide support for operations that will contribute to the sustainable management of urban woodlands and provide a range of public benefits. Urban woodlands are those located within one kilometer of settlements with a population of over 2000 people. Support will be provided for applications that can: - bring neglected woodlands into management - develop opportunities to use and enjoy existing and newly created woodlands - enhance woodland sites supported under previous programmes This dataset identifies new and upgraded footpaths grant aided under the FGS WIG WIAT Option.

Scotland’s woodlands and forests are a vital national resource and play an important role in rural development and sustainable land use. As well as helping to reduce the impacts of climate change and providing timber for industry, our forests enhance and protect the environment and provide opportunities for public enjoyment. The Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) will support: - the creation of new woodlands, contributing towards the Scottish Government target of over 10,000 hectares of new woodlands per year - the sustainable management of existing woodlands SPECIES CONSERVATION ================== This dataset contains three species conservation options. The aims of these option are as follows: Grey Squirrel Control - ----------------------------------- The aim of this option is to support the targeted control of grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) in areas where they are a threat to red squirrel (S. vulgaris) populations. This is an annual recurrent grant to support the labour costs for effective grey squirrel control. This includes the setting and monitoring of traps, the humane despatch of live animals and the completion of cull returns. Predator Control for Capercaillie and Black Grouse - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This option offers support for predator control to benefit capercaillie and black grouse which are vulnerable to predation. This option is only available on forested land. This is an annual grant to support the costs of labour and materials needed to undertake predator control within a 1.5 kilometre radius around active lek or breeding sites. This includes labour costs for shooting and trapping of pest mammals and birds, the monitoring of traps, the humane despatch of live animals, the completion of annual monitoring returns, and associated material costs such as traps. Reducing Deer Impact - --------------------------------------- The aim of this option is to reduce deer impacts to a level that will allow the regeneration of unprotected soft conifer and broadleaved species at a landscape scale, to help diversify forests and improve their conservation value. Grants are available to help reduce deer numbers or maintain them in the range of five to 10 deer per square kilometre. This is an annual grant to support the costs of labour for culling and monitoring deer populations.

Scotland’s woodlands and forests are a vital national resource and play an important role in rural development and sustainable land use. As well as helping to reduce the impacts of climate change and providing timber for industry, our forests enhance and protect the environment and provide opportunities for public enjoyment. The Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) will support: - the creation of new woodlands, contributing towards the Scottish Government target of over 10,000 hectares of new woodlands per year - the sustainable management of existing woodlands WIG RESTRUCTURING REGENERATION - OPTIONS =============== This option aims to improve the biodiversity, resilience and species diversity of woodlands in the long term. This will be achieved through restructuring their age and species composition at the point of re-planting following felling. Restructuring Scotland’s woodlands will help deliver against the outcomes in the Scottish Forestry Strategy. Two grant rates are available: 1) Delivering UK Forestry Standard Woodland 2) Delivering Diversity and Resilience Woodland and there are two steps to determine whether your proposal will be eligible. Please use the URL link below for further details.

Scotland’s woodlands and forests are a vital national resource and play an important role in rural development and sustainable land use. As well as helping to reduce the impacts of climate change and providing timber for industry, our forests enhance and protect the environment and provide opportunities for public enjoyment. The Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) will support: - the creation of new woodlands, contributing towards the Scottish Government target of over 10,000 hectares of new woodlands per year - the sustainable management of existing woodlands NATIVE WOODLAND ================== The aims of this option are to: - maintain native woodland - bring native woodlands and designated woodland features into good ecological condition - restore Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites to native woodland through deer control and the natural regeneration Native woodlands include a range of habitat types that are all UK priority habitats, while some are also European priority types. Good ecological condition of woodland depends partly on its character, age and management history. In general, woodland in good ecological condition contains a variety of open ground, native trees and shrubs and wildlife species expected for the type of woodland. The proposed management must be suitable for the ecosystem to be sustained, adapted or expanded. You must control any threats from non-native species or inappropriate levels of grazing and browsing so that natural regeneration is encouraged.

Description: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) has the largest natural distribution of any conifer in the world, ranging from northern Norway to Spain, and from Scotland across Europe and Asia to Siberia and north-east China. It can grow on a range of soil types, surviving where the rainfall is as low as 200mm, and/or where the temperature drops to -64 degrees C. In Scotland, pines were an important component of post-glacial natural forests (the so-called Wood of Caledon) which covered an estimated 70% of the country. They were largely confined to the poorest soils, often occurring in association with birch, but they also grew in mixture with other species in natural transitions to oak, ash and elm dominated woodland on the better soils, and to willows and alder on wet areas. Over many centuries vast areas of these ancient forests were cleared, and pinewood regeneration was prevented, either by allowing the land to be grazed or by replanting it with other tree species, usually of non-native origin. Other adverse effects were the browsing of deer and 'muirburning' to improve the grazing or the age structure of heather on adjacent grouse moors. Pinewoods vary enormously in size, structure and natural species diversity. In Deeside, Strathspey and the Beauly catchment the pine-dominated woodlands are relatively extensive, but in Glen Falloch and Glen Loyne there are only a few old trees scattered over a large area. Other pinewoods occur on steep cliff faces, or in gorge woodlands, such as at Glen Avon, Allt Chaorunn and Attadale, where there may be several age classes present. The wet western pinewoods are more fragmented and isolated than most, and are generally regarded as being in the poorest condition, occasionally merging with oak, alder and other woodland types, indicating that there is scope for re-creating large new mixed native forests in those areas. There are also biochemical differences between pinewoods; these are indicative of genetic variation. Of the seven Regions of biochemical similarity identified, the North West Biochemical Region, near Kinlochewe, is the most distinct, exhibiting considerable differences between individual pinewoods. It is known from the analysis of pollen records taken from peat bogs that pine has been present in North West Scotland for at least 8500 years, but when combined with the genetic information one may begin to speculate that the pines we see now are the direct descendants of trees which survived the last ice age either in Ireland, or possibly on areas of the continental shelf exposed by the lowered sea levels at that time. The pinewoods of the South West Biochemical Region, around Fort William, are another distinct group. They show less variation between the fragments, although it is believed that they had a similar history to those in the North West Biochemical Region. The biochemical characteristics of the other pinewoods in Scotland are not so dissimilar, and these pinewoods seem to have more in common with Central Europe pinewoods. In 1959 Steven and Carlisle published their book 'The Native Pinewoods of Scotland', in which they listed and described most of what they regarded as surviving (ex-Caledonian Forest ) pinewoods. This stimulated an interest in pinewood conservation, and in due course the introduction of a number of incentives to support pinewood management and expansion. More recently the native pinewoods of Scotland have been listed as an endangered habitat in the EC Habitats Directive. They are also the subject of a costed Habitat Action Plan (prepared under the UK Biodiversity Plan) which gives quantitative targets for the protection, restoration and expansion of the pinewoods by both natural regeneration and replanting. These targets are based on an earlier version of this Inventory. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To prepare the Caledonian Pinewood Inventory, the current extent of the native pinewoods named by Steven and Carlisle, have been investigated. Some of the pinewood fragments which they thought were too small to form discreet pinewood habitats, have also been considered. The total pinewood area now included in the Inventory is nearly 18000 hectares, and comprises 84 separate pinewoods of various sizes. In all cases the balance of probability suggests that they are genuinely native, that is, descended from one generation to another by natural seeding. In addition, each pinewood has: • a minimum density of 4 pine trees per hectare, excluding trees less than 2 metres in height, or at least 50 pine trees per hectare where sites have been extensively underplanted but are deemed capable of restoration to a more natural state; • a minimum of 30 individual trees, unless the wood has historical, aethetic or biological significance; • vegetation which is characteristic of native pinewood, although possibly of a depleted diversity; • a semi-natural soil profile, but accepting also sites with superficial cultivation such as shallow ploughing or scarification with some widely spaced drains. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inventory Rules: PINEWOOD FRAGMENT Recorded separately if more than 1.5km from another fragment. REGENERATION ZONE Standard 100m but more if conditions indicate spread is likely to be greater (e.g. Glen Tanar). Where regeneration is likely to be less, such as a fragment of pine in an oakwood, then a smaller regeneration zone may be indicated (e.g. Loch Maree Islands). Area does not normally include open water unless the whole of the open water is within the pinewood and regeneration zone. BUFFER ZONE Standard 500m beyond regeneration zone but can be extended further:- 500m beyond watershed or 700m above sea level (e.g. Gleann Fuar) link fragments together (e.g. Barisdale) Buffer zones will not include extensive areas of open water (e.g. South Loch Arkaig) unless the whole of the open water is within the buffer zone. Where the buffer zone includes some ground on the other shore of a loch then the water will be part of the buffer zone (e.g. Loch Hourn). PLANTED AREAS If of correct local origin then accept as pinewood if less than a third of total area of pinewood. The planted areas would be hatched on the maps and recorded as part of the regeneration zone not as part of the pinewood. Planted areas of correct origin, which are alongside pinewood, can have the regeneration zone round them (e.g. Doire Darach). Where a planted area has just been planted or is to be planted and is more than a third of the area of the pinewood, then it may be considered as part of the buffer zone and the buffer zone may be extended to 500m beyond the planted area (e.g. Breda). Planted areas of local origin which are more than 500m from the pinewood will be ignored. ATTRIBUTES =========== FEATCODE: Feature Code FEATDESC: Feature Description PINEID: Pinewood ID PINENAME: Pinewood Name NGR: National Grid Reference COREAREA: Area of the core woodland (Ha) REGENAREA: Area of the regneration zone (Ha) BUFFERAREA: Area of the buffer zone (Ha) TOTALAREA: Total area (Ha) BIOCHEM: Biochemical region

Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme - SFGS Following publication of the Scottish Executive’s Scottish Forestry Strategy 'Forests for Scotland' the opportunity was taken to review the Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme and give them a greater Scottish focus. The Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) - encouraged the creation and management of woods and forests to provide economic, environmental and social benefits. Grants were available under three main areas: - Grants for woodland expansion - creating new woodlands. - Restocking grants, for replanting following felling. - Stewardship grants, for a range of activities in existing woodlands. Applications for SFGS grants started in June 2003 and closed in August 2006. Most grants for SFGS were based on a percentage of Standard Costs of agreed operations. The Standard Cost took account of the costs of labour, plants, machinery, materials and supervision to do work to the specification as set out in the SFGS Standard Costs and Specifications Booklet. Depending upon the level of public benefit, grant payments were either at 60% or 90% of the Standard Cost. In the case of restocking, Standard Costs were mostly pitched at 75% of the new planting Standard Costs. Grants were available for planting proposals that met one or more of the following objectives: - Establishing well-designed productive woodland. - Expanding areas of native woodland, preferably through natural regeneration and the development of Forest Habitat Networks. - Improving riparian habitat. - Improving the quality and setting of urban or post-industrial areas. - Improving the diversity of the farmed and crofting landscape. Details of all eligible operations are set out within the 'Applicants Booklet' available from Conservancy Offices. ************************SFGS OBJECTIVES**************************** The abbreviations below list the SFGS objectives proposals are designed to meet: Establishment grants P1 to establish well-designed productive forest P2 to expand the area of native woodland P3 to improve a riparian habitat P4 to improve the quality and setting of urban or post-industrial areas P5 to improve the diversity of the farmed/crofting landscape Stewardship Grants S1 to improve timber quality S2 to reduce deer numbers S3 to improve the ecological value of native woodlands S4 to improve woodland biodiversity S5 to enhance landscape value S6 to develop alternative systems to clear-felling S7 to develop woodland recreation S8 to develop community involvement Restocking grants R1 to produce well designed productive forest R2 to restore areas of native woodland R3 to improve riparian habitat R4 to improve the quality and setting of urban or post-industrial areas R5 to improve the diversity of the farmed/crofting landscape Felling F1 Clear felling F2 Selective felling F3 Continuous Cover F4 Thinning Other land OL is not grant aided ************************** SPATIAL DATA ********************************** There are four spatial datasets associated with SFGS. These represent the scheme boundary, management plan boundaries, sub-compartment boundaries and deer fence lines within each approved SFGS scheme. The spatial datasets are related to the GLS database on a 'many to one' basis. This reflects the fact that many operations may occur within one sub-compartment. Data is captured against OS Mastermap. ********************************************************************************** Management Plan Operation References 200 - Reducing deer numbers 300 - Management plan for semi natural woodland 301 - Survey for woodland condition 302 - Biodiversity monitoring 400 - Management plan for semi natural woodland 401 - Survey for woodland condition 402 - Biodiversity monitoring 500 - Landscape design plan 501 - Landscape baseline survey 502 - Landscape monitoring 600 - Alternative system to clearfell. Site survey and stand appraisal. 601 - Management plan to develop alternative system to clearfell 602 - Alternative system to clearfell. Site monitoring. 603 - Alternative system to clearfell. Stand appraisal. 700 - Recreation area management plan 800 - Feasibility assessment 801 - Training/on-going community involvement (CGIS do not capture) 900 - Management Plan 901 - Woodland Survey 902 - Monitoring ************************** SPATIAL DATA ********************************** There are four spatial datasets associated with SFGS. These represent the scheme boundaries, management plan boundaries, sub-compartment boundaries and deer fence lines within each approved SFGS scheme. Each SFGS spatial dataset is accompanied by a specific non-spatial database table. The datasets can be related to each other on a 'many to one' basis. This reflects the fact that many SFGS operations may occur within one spatial geography (eg.a sub-compartment). The 'SFGS Management Plans' spatial dataset can be 'related' to the 'SFGS Link Management Plan Operations' table using the 'SC_Link' attribute field. ********************************************************************************** SFGS Management Plans - Spatial Attributes:- Attributes: SchemeNo SFGS Scheme number SC_Link Concatenated field used to relate spatial data to table Grant_Type Grant type code SchemeName Name of SFGS Scheme Cons_Name Conservancy Cont_Start Date contract started Local_Auth Local Authority Status Scheme status Obj_Code SFGS Objective code Descriptor Description of spatial feature ***************************************************************************** SFGS Link Management Plan Operations - Database Table Attributes:- Atributes: SchemeNo SFGS Scheme number SC_Link Concatenated field used to relate table to spatial data Scheme_Type Type of scheme (SFGS, Forest Plan, etc) Grant_Type Grant type code Descriptor Description of grant type Claim_No Claim number Quantity Length, number or area of operation Unit Unit of operation (eg. metres, visits, hectares) Pct_Cost Percentage of total cost paid under SFGS Pay_Rate Payment rate per unit (£) Grant _Paid Amount of grant paid (£) Pay_In_FY Financial year in which payment should be made Obj_Code SFGS Objective code (see above for full descriptions) *****************************************************************************

Scotland’s woodlands and forests are a vital national resource and play an important role in rural development and sustainable land use. As well as helping to reduce the impacts of climate change and providing timber for industry, our forests enhance and protect the environment and provide opportunities for public enjoyment. The Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) will support: - the creation of new woodlands, contributing towards the Scottish Government target of over 10,000 hectares of new woodlands per year - the sustainable management of existing woodlands WOODLAND CREATION - CLAIMS ============================== The aim of this category is to support the creation of new woodland that will bring economic, environmental and social benefits. These benefits include: - meeting our target to increase woodland cover by an extra 100,000 hectares between 2012 and 2022 - helping mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration - restoration of 'lost' habitats through developing forest habitat networks - supporting a sustainable forest industry by providing a reliable timber supply - protecting soil and water - providing community benefits through public access - enhancing urban areas and improving landscapes - supporting rural development through local businesses and farm diversification This dataset identifies areas where tree planting has taken place under the following FGS woodland creation options: - Conifer - Diverse Conifer - Broadleaves - Native Scots Pine - Native Upland Birch - Native Broadleaves - Native Low-density Broadleaves - Small or Farm Woodlands - Native Broadleaves in Northern and Western Isles The polygons in this dataset identify the spatial location of tree species grant aided under FGS and the planting year. All areas of grant aided open ground (OG) and non-grant aided other land (OL) are excluded from this dataset.

Woodland Creation forms part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 2014 - 2020. The SRDP delivers Pillar 2 of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Utilising some £1,326m of European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development funding, plus Scottish Government match funding, it funds economic, environmental and social measures for the benefit of rural Scotland. The SRDP is co-funded by the European Commission and the Scottish Government and reflects the 6 EU Rural Development Priorities. The programme also reflects the Scottish Government National Policy Framework (NPF). The aim of the Forestry Grant Scheme woodland creation category is to support the creation of new woodlands that will provide a range of economic, environmental and social benefits which include: - delivery of the Scottish Government target to extend woodland cover by an additional 100,000 hectares over the period of 2012-2022 - climate change mitigation by tackling greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration - restoration of lost habitats through developing forest habitat networks - underpinning a sustainable forest industry by providing a reliable timber supply - protecting the soil and water environment - providing community benefits through public access - enhancing urban areas and improving landscapes - supporting rural development through local businesses and farm diversification A fundamental consideration when creating new woodland is whether or not the tree species is appropriate to the site. You should carry out an appropriate site based assessment of soil and vegetation to match species choice with the particular site. Forestry Research 'Ecological Site Classification' (ESC) decision support system helps guide forest managers and planners to select ecologically suited species to sites. ESC considers: windiness; temperature; moisture; continentality; soil moisture and soil nutrients. This helps to determine suitability of the chosen species to the site and identifies it as: poor; marginal; suitable or very suitable. In order to be considered for SRDP grant support the overall suitability for your chosen species must be either 'very suitable' or 'suitable'. As an initial first step in determining suitability, the polygons in this dataset represent the climatic suitability of the chosen tree species to the site. Climatic suitability, based on ESC uses the following climatic site factors: - Accumulated temperature - Moisture deficit - Exposure (Detailed Aspect Method Scoring [DAMS]) - Continentality NOTE: This datasets does NOT take into account any soils information. Any application that is identified on the map as being either 'unsuitable' or 'marginal' may still be considered - but only if you clearly demonstrate that the site is 'suitable' for the chosen species of tree (for example where there is localised shelter in an otherwise exposed location). The woodland creation category has nine options and the associated aims are: - 'Conifer' To create conifer woodlands on land that is suitable for timber production and that is accessible for timber transport (including links to suitable public roads). This option is principally aimed at planting Sitka spruce. - 'Diverse Conifer' To create conifer woodlands on land that is suitable for timber production and that is accessible for timber transport (including links to suitable public roads). This option is aimed at planting conifer species other than Sitka spruce. - 'Broadleaves' To create broadleaved woodlands on land that is suitable for sawn and prime timber and that is accessible for timber transport (including links to suitable public roads). - 'Native Scots Pine' To create or expand native pinewood priority habitat (NVC) W18 - 'Native Upland Birch' The creation of native upland birch woodland of the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) W4: Downy Birch with Purple Moor Grass on shallow peaty soils. - 'Native Broadleaves' To create native broadleaved priority woodland habitats of the following National Vegetation Classification (NVC) types: W6 Alder with Stinging Nettle W7 Alder-Ash with Yellow Pimpernel W8 Ash, Field maple with Stinging Nettle W9 Ash, Rowan with Dogs Mercury W10 Oak (penduculate) with Bluebell Hyacinth W11 Oak (sessile), Downy Birch with Bluebell/wild Hyacinth W16 Oak, Birch W17 Oak (sessile), Downy Birch with Bilberry/Blaeberry - 'Native Low Density Broadleaves' To create specific native woodland or scrub habitats; including areas of ecotones for black grouse, treeline woodlands, juniper and other forms of scrub woodland and wood pasture systems. Normally associated with other woodland habitats in a transitional situation (eg. transition onto open hill: Black Grouse; Montane Scrub). - 'Small or Farm Woodland' To create small scale mixed broadleaved and conifer woodlands on farms and other rural land. - 'Native Broadleaves in Northern & Western Isles' To create native woodlands that contributes to the Orkney, Shetland or Western Isles woodland strategies. DATASET ATTRIBUTES: - Suitability - ie. 'Very Suitable', 'Suitable', 'Marginal', 'Unsuitable' or 'Inland Water'