Download - RDPE Funds for the Forestry Sector
RDPE Funds for the Forestry Sector
What SW Woodland Renaissance?
Woodland Renaissance is a partnership of private and public enterprises, working to regenerate woodland and forestry in the South West to benefit the economy, society and the environment.
Provide advice and assistance to forest businesses which want to apply for RDPE funding.
What is RDPE Funding?
Money from the Rural Development Program for England is EU and Defra funding. It pays for:
• Agri-environment scheme
• the England Woodland Grant Scheme
• LEADER
It will also pay for projects which:
Improve the competiveness of the forestry sector
Improve quality of life in rural areas
Help diversify the rural economy
Who benefits in the forestry sector?
Woodland Owners
Sawmillers
Woodfuel Producers
Woodland Contractors
Woodland Owners
increase the economic value of your woodland
Forestry machinery
Forest infrastructure
Recreational opportunities
Uneconomic silvicultural operations
NB: can only be used on non EWGS operations
Timber Based Businesses
Capital costs of buildings, machinery and infrastructure
Development of new products and services
Development of new markets for processed material
Environmental protection and occupational safety
NB: only eligible for micro-enterprises
Innovative silviculture
Proposal: forest management across 3 collaborating estates in Dorset.
Work includes mensuration, access work and conversion to Continuous Cover Forestry
Grant total: £58 490
Out of the Woods
Proposal: to purchase a specialised skidding machine with harvesting head. The machine has increased throughput and allows the harvesting of sites on difficult terrain.
Grant: £171 360
Tino Rawnsley
Proposal: to increase production of pellets and briquettes on site.
The sawmill site needed a market for waste material.
Pellet and briquette production allows all waste to be utilised from the mill and neighbouring mills to produce a higher value product than chip, logs or mulch
Grant: £114 329
Collett Firewood
Proposal: purchase of a larger log processor with loading table to increase efficiency, occupational safety and production.
Grant: £11 500
Forestry Sector Projects
Approved bids £4 256 180
Grant awarded £1 749 259
Applications in appraisal £2 104 675
Grant requested £805 647
Sep’t 2010
Application Requirements
1. Must enhance or expand the business
2. Must demonstrate market need
3. Machinery must be specialised
4. Second hand equipment is ok,
5. No hire purchase
6. Projects should have wider benefit e.g. increased ha of woodland managed, employment, renewable energy