Contact: Mel Watkins, ext 6778

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given for the allocation of £25,000 from the Environmental Improvement budget for the restoration of hazel coppice in Hampshire.

2. Reason

2.1 To support the coppice craft industry which provides benefits for Hampshire's landscape and biodiversity.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not to make a budget allocation.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer Consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. The County Council has a successful track record of supporting the coppice industry in Hampshire. A summary of this work is set out in Agenda item 26 - the Hampshire Coppice Woodland Project. This project involves the provision of grant support for the restoration of hazel coppice into an economically viable condition.

8. The current programme of grant-aid towards the restoration of hazel coppice was approved by the former Roads and Development Sub-Committee on 13 September 1999. Since that time the programme of restoration has continued with coppice workers liaising closely with the County Council's coppice consultant and habitats manager to ensure the effective implementation of the coppice restoration programme across Hampshire.

9. The Forestry Commission now also provides support for the first cut of derelict coppice under its Woodland Improvement Grant Scheme. To avoid overlap, the County Council has retargeted its grant-aid programme to other aspects which are important to the success of restoring coppice to good quality condition.

10. The County Council's grant-aid is for the cutting of coppice that has had its first remedial cut but which, for a variety of reasons, has not developed into sufficient quality for the industry to cut without financial help. With conditions attached to the grants to ensure that the problems affecting the quality of the coppice are overcome, the grants should ensure that coppice successfully matures to quality in-cycle hazel coppice. Details of the County Council's Coppice Restoration Grants are detailed in the attached appendix. Money for these grants has been allocated within the Environmental Improvement Fund. Individual grants will be issued under delegated powers within allowed limits.

6792/MW

APPENDIX

COPPICE RESTORATION GRANTS

Hampshire County Council has been providing grant aid for the restoration of derelict hazel coppice since 1984. This has supported the coppice craft industry and has provided benefits for wildlife and the landscape.

The Forestry Authority now also provides support for the first cut of derelict coppice under the Woodland Improvement Grant. To avoid overlap, Hampshire County Council has re-targeted its grant aid programme to other aspects which are important to the success of restoring coppice to good quality condition.

Hampshire County Council grant aid is for the cutting of coppice that has had its first remedial cut, but which for a variety of reasons has not developed into sufficient quality for the industry to cut without financial help. With conditions attached to the grants to ensure that the problems affecting the quality of the coppice are overcome, the grants should ensure that coppice successfully matures to quality, economic, in-cycle hazel coppice.

1. £900 per hectare for the second cut of derelict hazel coppice which is lacking in quality and which is uneconomic to cut. This is equivalent to approximately 50 percent of the cost of cutting and harvesting the coppice and it is assumed that the balance will be found in usable raw materials from the coppice.

Since some of the cut material will be usable, this grant may be of interest to coppice craftsmen. The grant is therefore available to the landowner of a coppice worker. Grant given to the coppice worker will be conditional on a signed agreement with the landowner.

2. £900 per hectare for the cutting of in-cycle coppice that has never been derelict, but which is no longer viable, having deteriorated due to factors such as deer damage, increased shading or storm damage.

3. For coppice which is less than four years old and which is failing due to deer damage, a grant of 75 percent towards re-cutting (to a maximum of £450 per hectare) and 75 percent for fencing to a maximum of £2500 in total for the whole scheme.

The above grants will only be available to woodland subject to a long term agreement for conservation and retention of the coppice under an existing County Council grant aid agreement or the Forestry Authority's Woodland Grant Scheme.

Conditions will also be attached to the grants to ensure that the problems affecting the quality of the coppice are overcome.

For further information and grant application forms, contact:

Mel Watkins, Planning Department, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8UE (01962 846778)