Kilkenny woodland owners can apply for up to €72,000 under new scheme!

Kilkenny forestry growers and others with woodland can now apply for grants of up to €72,000 to enhance or develop facilities so the areas can be enjoyed by all!

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, TD, and the Minister of State for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae TD, have launched the new NeighbourWood Scheme offered within the Forestry Programme 2023-2027. 

“The NeighbourWood Scheme brings communities and local woodlands together so that those woodlands can be used and enjoyed by all for many years to come," Minister Heydon stated.

"These NeighbourWoods will provide opportunities for recreation and physical exercise, as well as offering people the chance to experience, and enjoy, nature and the changing seasons. They also represent an important social asset within the surrounding locality, adding to its attractiveness as a place to ‘live, work and play’. I am delighted to recognise, during this important National Tree Week, that forestry is at the heart of many of our social, environmental, and economic goals.”

Minister Healy-Rae added: “The NeighbourWood scheme offers financial support to private and public forest owners who wish to develop attractive and easily accessible local woodlands for the recreational use of communities in both urban and rural Ireland. I believe the scheme can be used to strengthen the role and importance of a forest locally by integrating it into the community fabric. The importance of these forests in our communities and the benefits provided to local areas is reflected in the theme of “planting trees, growing together” during National Tree Week, which emphasises the social benefits of trees.”  

Funding is available to carry out woodland enhancement works and to install recreational facilities that will allow people to access and experience the woodland. These woodlands will cater for a range of recreational uses and pursuits, but ultimately will create opportunities for people to get out and enjoy local woodlands and to experience the associated health benefits, both physical and mental. The NeighbourWood Scheme is aimed primarily at publicly owned woodlands, but private forests and woodlands under community ownership or management trusts are also eligible. 

Element 1: Enhancement 

This element provides support for silvicultural works designed to enhance existing forests and to increase their attractiveness, biodiversity and suitability for recreation. Potential operations include the removal of invasive species, coupe planting to re-invigorate stagnant canopies, and the replacement of existing conifer stands with native woodland.  

Under Element 1, projects can receive up to €6,000 / ha in funding, based on approved costs and subject to an upper limit of €72,000 (i.e. €6,000 x 12 ha). 

Element 2: Facilities 

This element provides funding for suitable facilities that enable the use and enjoyment of existing woodlands and forests by people. These facilities can range from general features such as trails, seats, signs and parking to cater for the general user, to more specialised facilities for particular user groups. 

Under Element 2, projects can receive up to €4,200 / ha, based on approved works and subject to an upper limit of €50,400 (i.e. €4,200 x 12 ha). It is aimed at existing woodlands, including woodlands that been recently planted.

Private and public forest owners can apply under one or both elements of the Scheme, which are described as follows:

In addition to the grants, private applicants under this scheme may be eligible for an annual Payment for Ecosystem Service (PES). This acknowledges the forest environmental and climate services provided by the forest owner’s adoption and management of alternative silvicultural and recreational systems, and the associated additional costs incurred in doing so. Specifically, PES 5 (‘People’) applies, set at €90 / ha for 7 years.

Full details on how to apply, along with grant and premium rates, are available at gov.ie - NeighbourWood Scheme