188体育

You can apply as a group to the tree health pilot (THP) scheme to deal with a local tree health issue collectively.聽

1. Who can be a group applicant 聽

You can apply as part of a group if you鈥檙e one of the following:聽

• a landowner聽
• an occupier聽
• a tenant聽
• a landlord聽
• a licensor

2. What you need to do as a group applicant聽

To apply as a group, you and the other group applicants must meet the THP scheme eligibility criteria requirements. You will need to read and follow the:聽聽

• THP scheme guidance to fulfil your role and responsibilities聽聽聽
• relevant THP scheme terms and conditions to comply with the requirements of your role and the group聽

2.1 Nominate a lead facilitator聽

You and the other group applicants must nominate a lead facilitator. The lead facilitator will act on behalf of the group for the duration of the THP grant agreement.

The lead facilitator can be:聽

• a nominated individual from the group聽聽
• a private agent聽
• an organisation, such as a local council, woodland initiative or wildlife trust聽聽

Nominate your lead facilitator using the THP lead facilitator form. You can request the form by emailing [email protected]

Make sure you:聽聽

• fill in the relevant group applicant sections聽
• countersign the form聽聽

The lead facilitator will then submit your lead facilitator form, along with your THP application form to the Forestry Commission. They will submit a lead facilitator form and THP application form for each group applicant.聽聽

During the agreement, the lead facilitator will be responsible for:聽

• coordinating the group鈥檚 applications聽聽
• confirming group applicants have carried out the work they agreed to do聽聽
• submitting any evidence needed to the Forestry Commission聽

Find out more about what a lead facilitator must do

2.2 Complete your funded activities聽

You will have your own THP grant funding agreement. The agreement value for each funded activity will be based on the information on your application form.聽

Make sure the funded activity, or activities, on your land are consistent with your grant agreement. Your lead facilitator is responsible for confirming this work has been carried out according to your grant agreement.聽聽

The Forestry Commission may carry out site visits to make sure each group applicant is complying with the THP scheme terms and conditions.

2.3 Complete biosecurity training聽

Everyone in your group must complete to help maintain good biosecurity standards.聽聽

It will take approximately one and a half hours and consists of 3 environmental land management webinars, including:聽

• mammal threats to woodland and trees聽
• 产颈辞蝉别肠耻谤颈迟测听
• threats to your woodlands-signs of stress and ill health in trees聽

You must complete an assessment at the end of each webinar. The pass mark is 80% and you can repeat it if necessary.聽聽

2.4 Participate in research聽

You will be required to participate in activities led by Forest Research, the Forestry Commission and Defra. The activities will help to evaluate the THP scheme and will include:聽

• 辩耻别蝉迟颈辞苍苍补颈谤别蝉听
• keeping records of activities and experiences聽

You may also be asked to participate in other learning, including:聽

• 蝉耻谤惫别测蝉听
• 飞辞谤办蝉丑辞辫蝉听
• interviews

2.5 Source trees for restocking from a certified supplier聽

When restocking as part of the THP scheme, your trees must be sourced from a supplier that meets the plant health management standard.聽聽

You, or your lead facilitator, must provide one of the following as evidence, to make a claim:聽

• the supplier鈥檚 certification number showing their current membership of the Plant Healthy Certification scheme聽
• an application number to show the supplier has applied to become certified聽聽
• a successful ready to plant (RtP) assessment reference number associated with the grant funding agreement number

2.6 Provide payment for contractors

Your lead facilitator must coordinate the up-front payment of any contractor required to carry out the group鈥檚 grant-funded activities.聽聽

You must give the lead facilitator any payments required for work the contractor will carry out on the land you own or manage.聽聽

3. Who submits your claims and evidence聽

You, or your lead facilitator on your behalf, can only claim for activities funded under the THP scheme. Claim values will be based on the information in your claim form.聽

You, or your lead facilitator, must submit any invoices and receipts as supporting evidence of costs incurred, when needed.聽聽

After you, or your lead facilitator, have submitted the THP claim form and any supporting evidence, you will receive any funding due to you.聽

If you restock trees using THP funding, you or the lead facilitator must submit annual maintenance claims to receive maintenance payments.

4. Contact the Forestry Commission聽

Contact the THP team by email at:[email protected]

or by post:聽