Defra's new Tree Health pilot scheme is aimed to better protect trees in England. But how will it work and who can apply?
Farmers, landowners and managers can now express their interest in taking part in the new Tree Health pilot, designed to support action against pests and diseases affecting their trees.
The pilot will first focus on ash, sweet chestnut, larch and spruce.
The three-year Tree Health pilot will be delivered by the Forestry Commission and cover parts of the North West, West Midlands, London and the South East.
The pilot aims to establish 100 agreements with interested landowners and managers to help deal with trees affected by a pest or disease outbreak.
As the pilot will trial new elements of the future scheme only, payments made as part of the Tree Health pilot will differ to payments made as part of the existing Countryside Stewardship Tree Health grants.
Forestry Commission chair and North Yorkshire farmer Sir William Worsley said: "We envisage a genuine partnership with land owners and managers whose trees are affected by certain pests and pathogens - one that will strengthen the health of our iconic natural environment.
"A healthy treescape is crucial to ensure we leave our environment in a better state for future generations. I am calling for eligible tree owners and managers across England to submit their expressions of interest to the pilot.
"Together, we will carefully test and refine new elements of the future Tree Health Scheme, to the benefit of our precious trees and woodlands and the wildlife which relies upon them."
The pilot delivers on the Government's commitment, set out in the Agricultural Transition Plan, to reduce the impact of tree pests and diseases. It will work with landmark plans for a renewed agricultural sector which will transform the way farmers and land managers are supported to encourage sustainable farming practices alongside profitable food production.
Defra said the Tree Health pilot supports the commitment to the 25 Year Environment Plan, the Tree Health Resilience Strategy and the UK's carbon net zero goals.
Alisha Anstee, NFU countryside adviser, said: "The Tree Health pilot is a welcome addition to the Agricultural Transition Plan offering - it is a crucial time to be focusing efforts on reducing the impacts of tree pests and diseases, especially in light of climate change. We encourage farmers that are in the selected areas and could benefit from drawing down this funding to get involved.
"It is important the scheme works practically for farmers and the pilot will be fundamental in shaping the full offering in 2024."
CLA president Mark Bridgeman said: "The support currently available through schemes like Countryside Stewardship is only good for woodland situations, not hedgerows or roadside trees affected by ash dieback which can cost significant amounts of money to put right. Whereas this new pilot scheme should provide a wider range of support in helping farmers and landowners tackle the ever-increasing threat of pests and diseases within trees."
"The CLA has been involved in shaping the Tree Health pilot, which will pave the way for a new Tree Health support scheme across England from 2024.
"Although the pilot will only operate in some parts of the country for now, we'd urge all landowners with trees to look out for the sorts of support available through the pilot which may become available to all within three years."
How will the scheme work?
The Forestry Commission will support the felling and restocking of trees as well as providing maintenance payments for restock sites.
Learnings from the pilot will inform the future Tree Health Scheme, being rolled out in 2024.
The pilot will work alongside the existing Countryside Stewardship Woodland Tree Health grants, which will continue to be on offer until 2024 when the new Tree Health Scheme will be adopted.
Among the incentives being tested through the pilot, support will be available for diseased and infested trees outside of woodland, for roadside ash with ash dieback, and for trees affected by the spruce bark beetle (ips typographus) and sweet chestnut blight (cryphonectria parasitica).
For further information about the Tree Health Pilot and to submit an expressions of interest, visit www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-health-pilot-scheme
