Updates to the Tree Health Pilot scheme

The Tree Health Pilot Scheme (THP) 2024 is a grant-based initiative designed to support landowners, tenants, and land managers in specific regions of England dealing with the impact of tree pests and diseases. The main purpose of this scheme is to slow the spread of major tree diseases and promote the recovery of affected woodlands by encouraging replanting with disease-resistant species.

Objectives and Purpose:

The THP 2024 focuses on combating the spread of key tree diseases like ash dieback, which devastates ash trees, and Phytophthora ramorum, a disease that affects larch and other tree species. The scheme recognises the importance of maintaining woodland health not just for the environment, but also for biodiversity, local ecosystems, and the communities that rely on these areas for recreation, timber, and other resources. By providing financial assistance, the scheme encourages sustainable management practices that will help safeguard the future of England’s forests.

Who Can Apply:

The scheme is open to a variety of applicants, including:

• Landowners: Private owners of affected woodland areas.
• Tenants: Those who lease land with tree cover or woodlands.
• Land Managers: Individuals or organisations responsible for managing land and woodland areas.
• Group Applications: Several landowners or managers can also apply together, coordinated by a lead facilitator, to maximise the impact of disease management across a larger landscape.

Applicants must have responsibility for managing trees impacted by diseases and be located in one of the target regions: Northwest, West Midlands, Southeast, or London. This regional focus helps concentrate resources on the areas where the tree diseases are most prevalent and likely to spread.

Eligible Land and Activities:

To qualify for the scheme, the land must contain trees affected by diseases like ash dieback or Phytophthora Ramorum or be at high risk for such diseases. Eligible land includes:

Woodland Areas: Managed woodlands, including private forests, public parks, and community-owned woodlands.
Non-agricultural Land: Areas that may not be used for farming but contain tree cover.
Areas of Special Ecological Importance: Sites where trees play a crucial role in local ecosystems, including areas home to endangered species or important habitats.

The grant covers various activities aimed at managing tree health and promoting recovery, such as:

Tree Felling: The removal of severely infected or dead trees to prevent the spread of disease.
Restocking: Replanting affected areas with resilient, disease-resistant species to restore the ecosystem and prevent future outbreaks.
Disease Management: Activities that slow the spread of pests and diseases, including site preparation, ground protection, and maintenance of forest health.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Grants can also cover the costs of monitoring the impact of diseases and the success of the interventions funded by the scheme.

Application Process:

Applicants can submit either individual or group applications. For group submissions, a lead facilitator (often a forestry or land management organisation) will coordinate the efforts. The application must include details about the scale of the tree disease issue on the land, the type of intervention proposed, and an estimate of costs. Group applications are particularly encouraged to allow for a landscape-level approach, ensuring that disease management is coordinated across neighbouring properties and larger regions.

Benefits and Goals:

The aim of the Tree Health Pilot Scheme is to slow the spread of pests and diseases that threaten England’s forests. By providing financial assistance, the scheme promotes proactive and sustainable woodland management. In the long term, it aims to improve tree health and resilience across the country, ensuring that future generations can benefit from healthy forests and woodlands. The scheme also supports biodiversity, improves ecological networks, and helps communities maintain the environmental, social, and economic benefits that forests provide.

In summary, the THP 2024 is an essential tool for addressing the growing threat of tree diseases in England. It offers targeted financial support to landowners and managers, enabling them to take action to protect their woodlands, restore damaged areas, and contribute to the broader goal of national woodland resilience.

Further details about the eligibility requirements, target areas, and application process can be found on the official government webpage here.