Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme (FFIS)

In November 2011 Defra announced the launch of the Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme. This £20 million grant scheme will provide funding for forestry and woodfuel processing equipment until 2013. The aim is to improve profitability and growth in the forestry sector, and to strengthen the woodfuel supply chain to ensure rising demand can be met effectively on a local scale.

In the North East Northwoods have been delivering grant support for forestry equipment and infrastructure since 2008 through the RDPE bioeNErgy programme. Over £1.4 million was grant aided to 79 projects across 58 micro-businesses and woodland owners; with private sector match funding this ammounted to a total investment of over £4.4 million. See the Case Studies pages for detail on projects supported to date. This new scheme will pick up where bioeNErgy left off, with support available for much of the equipment that has been funded to date, ensuring ongoing growth and investment in our region.

If you are a rural business or woodland owner involved in forestry or the woodfuel supply chain you could benefit from this grant scheme.

More information can be found on the Defra or RDPE wesites below. The second round of the scheme will be open for applications in April 2012, with Northwoods able to provide support to businesses to apply for funding. To find out more or discuss a project idea please contact the Project Officer Jill Platten at jill.platten@ruraldevelopment.org.uk or 07920 102712.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/11/10/rural-businesses/

http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/funding-sources/farm-and-forestry-improvement-scheme

Funding for the Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme is provided through the Rural Development Programme for England. RDPE is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union and delivered in the North East by Northwoods.