Guidance

How to complete your Protection and Infrastructure grant application by email or post

Published 2 January 2025

Applies to England

Before you apply, check the바카라 사이트¯ applicant바카라 사이트™s guide바카라 사이트¯to make sure you바카라 사이트™re eligible. 

To submit your application by email or post, you바카라 사이트™ll need to complete: 

• an application form 
• a map to support your application 

Complete your form 

Download the바카라 사이트¯Protection and Infrastructure Grant application form바카라 사이트¯from 바카라 사이트. 

If you cannot access 바카라 사이트, request a copy of the application form by email at바카라 사이트¯ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk바카라 사이트¯or telephone on 03000 200 301. 

If you바카라 사이트™ve received the form by email, save it to your computer and fill in the form on your screen. 

If you바카라 사이트™ve received the form by post: 

• use black ink and write in capital letters (do not use pencil or felt-tip pen) 
• do not cross through whole pages or remove pages 
• correct mistakes and initial and date them (do not use correction fluid) 
• completely fill any checkbox containing a mistake and put an 바카라 사이트™X바카라 사이트™ or a tick in the correct box 

You must sign your application at section 7 if you are submitting a paper application by post.

Section 1: applicant details 

1: Enter your name, or the name of the agreement holder of the Woodland Creation Plan or Woodland Management Plan (WMP) that will be used in support of this application. 

2: You can find your Single Business Identifier (SBI) on your WMP or Woodland Creation Plan agreement. 

3: Enter the agreement title, for example the land or farm name. This must match the agreement title entered on the application form. 

4: Enter the county where the woodland in your application is located. If your woodland crosses a boundary, give the county where the greater proportion is found. 

5: Tick the box to confirm if you바카라 사이트™re VAT registered or not. 

6: Tick the box if you have sent us a land ownership and control form. You need to send us a바카라 사이트¯land ownership and control form바카라 사이트¯if you do not have management control over all the land included in this application for the duration of the proposed agreement. Download the바카라 사이트¯land ownership and control form바카라 사이트¯from 바카라 사이트. If you cannot access 바카라 사이트, request a copy of the form by telephone on 03000 200 301. 

Section 2: Supporting documentation and permissions 

7: Enter the lead applicant바카라 사이트™s full name. 

8: Confirm if the agreement holder will be conducting the work. We can only pay for 80% of the awarded grant amount if the work is conducted by you or your employees. 

9: Tell us the name of the Forestry Commission area that the woodland in your application is located. If your woodland crosses a boundary, select the area in which the greater amount is found. See the바카라 사이트¯Forestry Commission office access and opening hours바카라 사이트¯on 바카라 사이트 for more information. 

10: Enter a 6-figure 바카라 사이트¯OS바카라 사이트¯grid reference for the central point of the woodland, formatted as 2 letters followed by a space, 3 digits, a space and then the final 3 digits. For example, GR 123 456. 

11: Tick 바카라 사이트˜Yes바카라 사이트™ or 바카라 사이트˜No바카라 사이트™ depending on whether you바카라 사이트™ve discussed the project with your local planning authority. If 바카라 사이트˜Yes바카라 사이트™ go to 11 (a), if 바카라 사이트˜No바카라 사이트™ go to 11 (b). 

¹ó¾±²Ô»å바카라 사이트¯information about planning permission바카라 사이트¯on 바카라 사이트. 

11 (a): Tick 바카라 사이트˜Yes바카라 사이트™ if the local planning authority have confirmed that you will need planning permission. Go to Question 12. Tick 바카라 사이트˜No바카라 사이트™ if you do not require planning permission from the local planning authority and continue to Question 11 (b). 

11(b): Will the project be undertaken via permitted development? If 바카라 사이트˜Yes바카라 사이트™, provide evidence from your local authority when submitting your claim. You will also need to advise your local Forestry Commission woodland adviser that you have contacted your local planning authorities when you apply. If planning permission is required, please provide evidence of granted planning permission from your local authority when submitting your claim. ³§±ð±ð바카라 사이트¯section 4.5 of the applicant바카라 사이트™s guide바카라 사이트¯for more information. 

12: Enter the Forestry Commission reference number for your approved 바카라 사이트¯WMP 바카라 사이트¯or Woodland Creation Plan. This is usually a 5-digit number. You must have a바카라 사이트¯WMP바카라 사이트¯approved or approved in principle by the Forestry Commission before you submit your initial application. 

You will also need Forestry Commission approval and a valid reference number for WMPs that have not been funded through the Forestry Commission (for example, via UKWAS 33 certification). 

If you do not have your reference number, contact your local Forestry Commission woodland adviser. 

13: Confirm if you have had an operational site assessment (OSA). An OSA바카라 사이트¯is a checklist that may be used when planning forest operations such as harvesting or civil engineering work. 

³§±ð±ð바카라 사이트¯guidance on managing and protecting woodland wildlife바카라 사이트¯for more information. 

14: Confirm if any of the land in your application contains a (SAC) or a tree preservation order (TPO).

Section 3: Application (Land parcels and length of road) 

Land parcel 

The land parcel reference is the바카라 사이트¯OS바카라 사이트¯map sheet reference and National Grid field number. It must contain a 10-character reference, made up of 2 letters, 4 numbers and the final 4 numbers indicating the centre of the land parcel (for example, LP12345678). We need the whole reference to identify the land parcel. 

Site of special scientific interest (SSSI) or Scheduled monument (SM) designation 

State yes or no whether a land parcel contains a SSSI or a SM. 

³§±ð±ð바카라 사이트¯section 4.5.7 of the applicant바카라 사이트™s guide바카라 사이트¯for more information. 

Type of road on this land parcel 

You can find information about types of tracks in 바카라 사이트˜Table 1: Description of tracks바카라 사이트™ in the바카라 사이트¯Operations Note 25바카라 사이트¯on 바카라 사이트. 

Total length of road (approximate) 

This is the length of your road in metres when it has been completed.

Section 4: FY2 Woodland Infrastructure 

Agent바카라 사이트™s fees 

An agent in this context is someone who either manages the construction project or helps find the right contractor or quotations. This is not to be mistaken for an agent who fills out your바카라 사이트¯RPA바카라 사이트¯online claim or your application form on your behalf. 

Quotations 1 to 3 

Enter 3 contractors바카라 사이트™ quotations including the: 

• contractor name 
• fee amount excluding VAT 
• VAT amount (enter 바카라 사이트˜0바카라 사이트™ if no VAT is charged) 바카라 사이트“ the total amounts will be calculated automatically in the 바카라 사이트˜Total바카라 사이트™ box 

If you are claiming agents바카라 사이트™ fees, enter the agent바카라 사이트™s name, the fee amount excluding VAT and the VAT amount (please enter 바카라 사이트˜0바카라 사이트™ if no VAT is charged). The total will be calculated automatically. 

Selected quotation and quotation reference 

Choose the quotation and enter a quotation reference (for example, the name of the contractor). 

Justification for selection 

Explain why you have selected this quotation. The cheapest quotation is preferred. 

If you are only applying for FY2 Woodland Infrastructure, go to section 7 to complete the declarations and undertakings.

Section 5: Beaver protection supporting documents and permissions 

15 (a): Farmers and land managers can apply for BC3: Crop Protection fencing mesh and wire for permanent crops and BC4: Tree guard post and wire for a tree that has commercial, amenity or ornamental value, where they: 

• are growing on land in one of the eligible catchment areas listed in the table in the application form 
• are within 100 metres of a water body or watercourse 

Farmers and land managers can apply for BC5: Expert beaver dam management if the dam is in one of the eligible catchment areas. 

Tick the relevant box to confirm the catchment area. If your catchment area is not listed, go to 15 (b). 

15 (b): Complete text box and enter the catchment area and name of the water body or watercourse. 

15 (c): You must obtain advice from the Flood Risk Management authority (FRM) (for example the Environment Agency, Internal drainage board or lead local flood authority) and submit a copy of the advice with your completed application.

Will any permissions or permits be required? If yes, tick the 바카라 사이트˜yes바카라 사이트™ box and go to 16. If no, tick the 바카라 사이트˜no바카라 사이트™ box and go to question 17. 

Section 6: Beaver capital items included in this application 

16 (a): If you are applying for BC3 and BC4 standard cost capital items, complete the table. This information will help you to complete it. 

Land parcel 

The land parcel reference is the바카라 사이트¯OS바카라 사이트¯map sheet reference and National Grid field number. It must contain a 10-character reference, made up of 2 letters, 4 numbers and the final 4 numbers indicating the centre of the land parcel (for example, LP12345678). We need the whole reference to identify the land parcel. 

SSSI바카라 사이트¯or SM designation 

Enter 바카라 사이트˜yes바카라 사이트™ or 바카라 사이트˜no바카라 사이트™ to tell us if a land parcel contains an바카라 사이트¯SSSI바카라 사이트¯or SM. 

³§±ð±ð바카라 사이트¯section 4.5.7 of the바카라 사이트¯applicant바카라 사이트™s guide바카라 사이트¯for more information. 

Total land parcel size 

Enter the total size of the land parcel in hectares.

Option group: Beavers BC3 or BC4 

Capital item	Quantity	Payment rate per metre per item
BC3	Number of metres of fencing	£6.34 per metre
BC4	Number of tree guards	£132.16 per tree guard

16 (b): If you are applying for BC5 actual cost capital items, complete the field parcel table. 

16 (c): Complete the table giving details of the quotations you have submitted. If you have only been able to provide one quote, please explain why. We can only accept one quote where there is a reasonable justification for doing so.

Section 7: Declaration and undertakings 

Complete this section to confirm that you have read and understood the requirements of the바카라 사이트¯Protection and Infrastructure grant scheme and the undertakings that you are making when submitting your application. 

Read the declaration, undertakings and warning carefully. 

Sign in the box, and enter your name in block letters, your capacity (for example, sole trader, company director, agent) and the date you바카라 사이트™re signing the application. 

If you바카라 사이트™re submitting your application by email, you do not need to sign the application. 

Before you submit your application,바카라 사이트¯make sure you must have the correct permission levels바카라 사이트¯in the Rural Payments service. 

Prepare a map to support your application 

You need to provide a map which shows all areas of proposed woodland creation and associated capital items with your application. If your application is successful and we offer you an agreement, the map you sent with the application will become the 바카라 사이트˜Agreement Map바카라 사이트™, so it needs to be clear, legible and meet the minimum mapping standards. 

How to prepare a map for your FY2: Woodland Infrastructure application 

You can create the application map yourself if it meets the minimum mapping standards, or you can request one from the바카라 사이트¯Forestry Commission map request service. The agreement map needs to reflect the details recorded in the바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯Protection and Infrastructure application form. You must make sure that all land parcels and their land parcel reference numbers are listed and include any areas of open space within the area proposed for grant support. 

Integral open space must be limited to 20% of the total woodland area and individual areas of open space must not be more than 0.5 hectares. Areas larger than this can only be proposed in exceptional circumstances, and you should discuss this with your local Forestry Commission woodland adviser. Open space includes forest tracks, rides, wayleaves and other permanent open areas. 

As part of your application, supporting maps for the woodland creation plan should contain more detailed information about the woodland creation, for example, stocking density, species, rides and open areas. Supporting maps should be based on바카라 사이트¯OS바카라 사이트¯maps or Geographical Information System (GIS) generated digital maps. If you are using a바카라 사이트¯GIS바카라 사이트¯based map, add a scale bar to the map so that this can be used to measure lengths. 

You are responsible for providing updated maps if there are any changes agreed to your application. 

Minimum mapping standards 

Application maps must: 

• be based on a scale of 1:2500 or 1:5000 or for large schemes 1:10000 
• show the whole land parcel on which the capital items to be included are located 
• show the location of the proposed capital works (mark the capital items with a coloured pen and list the capital item codes next to them) 바카라 사이트“ this includes proposed planting areas 
• show any proposed areas of open space within the proposed planting areas 
• show fence lines 바카라 사이트“ stating which type of fence (code) you are applying for 

You must also: 

• number each map and include the total number of maps you바카라 사이트™re submitting (for example, 바카라 사이트˜map 1 of 3바카라 사이트™) 
• write your SBI consisting of 9 digits, the application year, and agreement title (as detailed on the application form) on the top right of the map 
• write the name of business or applicant on the right-hand side of the map 바카라 사이트“ this should be the name (beneficiary) that is registered with us for the바카라 사이트¯SBI 
• write a 6-figure바카라 사이트¯OS바카라 사이트¯grid reference for the centre of the map on the bottom left of the map, if there are no numbered바카라 사이트¯OS바카라 사이트¯grid lines 
• cross out any mistakes 바카라 사이트“ do not use correction fluid 

If you send a map that does not meet these standards, we will send you a base map to mark up and return.

Submit your application 

Email or post all sections of the completed application form. 

You must: 

• put your SBI and Application ID on everything you send to us 
• have the correct permission level (at least 바카라 사이트˜CS바카라 사이트¯Applications 바카라 사이트“ Submit바카라 사이트™) in the Rural Payments service 

Submit by email 

Submit your application by email if you received your application form by email. 바카라 사이트˜Reply바카라 사이트™ to the email, attaching your completed documents to it. 

You바카라 사이트™ll need to scan the completed maps and supporting documents first. 

By 바카라 사이트˜replying바카라 사이트™ to the email we sent to you, rather than sending us a new email, your application will be automatically forwarded to the correct team and will not wait in a queue to be sorted manually. 

If you downloaded your application form or received it by post, you can submit it by email. 

Scan all the documents, attach them to an email and send the email to바카라 사이트¯ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk. You must: 

• put 바카라 사이트˜CS바카라 사이트¯Protection and Infrastructure Agri-environment application 2024바카라 사이트™ as the subject of your email 
• put your바카라 사이트¯SBI바카라 사이트¯number in your email and on everything you attach to the email 
• make sure that the email address you바카라 사이트™re sending your application from is registered for your business in the Rural Payments service 

Submit by post 

If you received your application form by post and cannot submit it by email, you can post it to: 

Rural Payments Agency  
PO Box 324 
°Â´Ç°ù°ì²õ´Ç±èÌý
S95 1DF 

Remember to sign your paper application (section 5) before you submit it. 

We recommend that you get proof of posting for any documents you send to us by post. 

You should keep a copy of everything you send to us.

How to submit your supporting documents or evidence 

You can scan and email all the documents to바카라 사이트¯RPA. You must put your바카라 사이트¯SBI바카라 사이트¯on all documents you send to us. 

You can submit digital photos by email, but do not scan printed photos as the quality is not good enough. 

The maximum size of emails we can accept is 32MB. If the email exceeds this limit, please send a further email and use the same subject heading. Add the number of emails at the end of the subject heading, for example, 1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3. 

For security reasons, we cannot accept discs, USB pen drives or other external storage media. 

Or you can post the documents to: 

Rural Payments Agency  
PO Box 324 
°Â´Ç°ù°ì²õ´Ç±èÌý
S95 1DF