Policy for Giving Grants

General principle

All work for which support is sought from Woodland Heritage must help fulfil the Charity’s Objects, appropriate extracts from which appear below (with indented paragraphs numbered purely for ease when completing an application form):

(1)    For the public benefit, the creation, the protection, conservation, management and enhancement of woodland and timber resources in the United Kingdom and the promotion and advancement of sustainable wood supply in the United Kingdom, in particular but not exclusively by:

(i)      helping people and organisations from all backgrounds to conserve, grow and maintain better quality trees and woodland areas via the provision of advice and financial support, thereby securing environmental, economic and social benefits from their endeavours;

(ii)    acting as a resource body for connecting the growers and users of high quality timber;

(iii)   raising the awareness by the general public of the value of craftsmanship in wood;

(2)    For the public benefit, the promotion and advancement of education of the public in general and particularly amongst other charities, voluntary bodies and organisations with an active interest in forestry on the subjects of the value of well-managed woodlands and high quality timber and on the threats facing woodland and timber resources in the United Kingdom, in particular but not exclusively by:

(i)                  the provision of or the facilitation of access to skills and training within the forestry and timber industries;

(ii)                the provision of information to the general public on the value of and threats facing well-managed woodlands and high quality timber;

(iii)               undertaking and supporting research into improving tree stock and controlling damage caused by pests, diseases and a changing climate, and disseminating the useful results of such research;

Refinements of the general principle

This grant-giving policy, whilst able to support all of the Charity’s Objects will, at the discretion of the Trustees of the Charity, respect the priorities of the current Business Plan to give certain themes greater weight than others and to help elicit specific requests over the period of the plan.  A copy of the current Business Plan is normally available to be viewed at www.woodlandheritage.org

Notwithstanding the priorities of a specific Business Plan, the Trustees will also consider the merits of achieving some form of balance between grant-giving in support of the different charitable Objects.  Demand might mean that some themes attract more bids than others so every other year, a review will consider what has been awarded over the past two years.  This review will reveal the trends that have emerged over that period and preceding ones and how grants are delivering the Charity’s Objects.  After due appraisal of these various factors, any need to adjust the natural balance of bids would then be considered, with suitable bids researched and sought.

Whilst it may well be beneficial to keep enduring schemes alive and regular beneficiaries supported, all giving will be reviewed as to effectiveness within the alternate-year review.

Priority will be given to supporting eligible proposals submitted by members of Woodland Heritage.

Woodland Heritage, December 2017