Increased funding for central Scotland tree planting

Rural Affairs Secretary Fergus Ewing has announced an increase in funding for tree planting schemes in the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN).

The Central Scotland Green Network area stretches from Ayrshire and Inverclyde in the west, to Fife and the Lothians in the east. Currently, around 2,500ha of woodland creation activity, about the same size as East Kilbride, is being planned for this year.

Forestry Commission Scotland have been promoting the benefits of integrating woodlands into farming and landowning businesses. If all the projects come to fruition as expected, it will be the highest tree planting level in the area since 1999.

Announcing the increased budget, Rural Affairs Secretary, Fergus Ewing said:

"The CSGN is a key Scottish Government National Development and is regarded as an essential element for Scotland’s long-term economic recovery. The aim is to restore and transform the area’s landscape, making it a better place to live and do business in.

"I am very pleased to see woodland creation activity at such high levels – it is very encouraging news and I congratulate all for the hard work in achieving this. I am especially pleased to note the high level of applications from farmers and landowners wishing to integrate more woodland into their existing businesses to improve their viability.

"We need to keep up this impetus. I have therefore trebled the funding available for the CSGN contribution and adjusted the grant rates so we can support more applications and up to 1,000 additional hectares per year."

Grant support is through the Central Scotland Green Network Contribution, which can be accessed by applicants in the central belt applying to the Forestry Grant Scheme.

New grant rates for the CSGN area have now been set for this year – full details are available on the Forestry Commission Scotland website.