WINTER WEATHER AFFECTING SRDP GRANT CLAIMS

Posted on 16 February 2010

Woodland creation schemes that have 2010 as their capital cost claim year must be planted by 15^th May, in order for the annual recurrent payments to begin at the start of 2011. This tough deadline has now been made even more difficult with around six weeks’ worth of ground preparation and planting lost to the recent severe winter weather and the Scottish Government have given no sign yet that they are prepared to relax the deadline.

Estate owners face a difficult choice if planting is unlikely to be finished by 15^th May. Their options are:-

Continue with planting and claim the capital grant, but then wait until the next financial year to claim the annual recurrent payments, affecting budgets and cash flow;
Apply to delay planting for another year, with the inevitable detrimental effects on already hard-pressed nurseries and planting contractors.

Through ConFor, Bowlts have raised this issue with both the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Minister for the Environment, and are awaiting a response.

Bowlts are particularly concerned for both forestry contractors and tree nurseries who, having suffered a particularly difficult 2009, were hoping for SRDP finally to deliver during the current year. Hopefully ConFor’s ongoing lobbying will soon bring some good news on the funding dilemma.

It is hoped within the coming year that Bowlts will supervise the planting of approximately 750,000 trees within native woodland schemes. Here’s hoping there are less stormy times ahead!

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Recruitment

RURAL PRACTICE CHARTERED SURVEYOR AND TRAINEE CHARTERED SURVEYOR POSITIONS

Due to an increasing workload, we are looking to expand our rural practice department. Our office is based at Pluscarden, near Elgin, Moray. We currently have a staff of 15 and our core activity is property consultancy and rural estate management.

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If you would like to apply for either position, please email your CV and covering letter to mandy@bowlts.com.

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