Spruce Site Assessment

Spruce Site Assessment can help to evaluate costs involved in felling spruce in the proactive spruce removal area and identify funding available to help with the cost.

- Funding organisation: Forestry Commission - Location: South East England - Award: £1,999 to £2,000 per award; total scheme size £130,000 - Opening date: 2025-10-01 - Closing date: 2029-04-01

Summary

The Spruce Site Asessment (SSA) grant is for landowners and land managers in England with spruce trees on land inside the Ips typographus proactive spruce removal area.The SSA grant offers a fixed payment of £2,000. This funding is for landowners (or their agents) to assess their woodland to understand the amount and condition of spruce present and plan for potential felling and restocking..

Eligibility

You must own spruce trees (Picea A. Dietr.) in the proactive spruce removal area. Check the map to see if your land is inside the proactive spruce removal area.

Objectives

The grant aims to reduce the risks of Ips typographus (eight-toothed spruce bark beetle) and outbreaks occurring by encouraging the removal of material that might be susceptible to the beetle. If outbreaks are found, Statutory Plant Health Notices (SPHNs) are issued. SPHNs require the owner to take specific urgent forestry actions. Find out more about the SPHN process for Ips typographus infestations.

Dates

The SSA is open until March 2029,with a limited number of agreements being available on a first-come first-served basis

How to apply

How to apply for the Spruce Site Assessment Grant

Apply / more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spruce-site-assessment-funding-eligibility-and-how-to-apply