New LANTRA-accredited Grey Squirrel Control Course offered by the NGO

Under the Government’s WS3 Grant, landowners are able to claim financial support for undertaking squirrel control as part of their woodland conservation efforts. The grey squirrel control grant is available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, with payments of £60 per hectare of qualifying woodland.

 

There are a certain number of requirements related to the grant, including the need for Grey Squirrel control training.

 

The NGO are now able to offer a Lantra Accredited Grey Squirrel Control course which meets these training requirements, at a cost of £200 for an NGO member, or £225 for non-members.

 

The course takes approximately four hours to complete and is a combination of theory and practical after completion of the training candidates will receive a Lantra Awards Certificate in Grey Squirrel Control which is suitable for the purpose of the WS3 grant. The course is also a valid learning experience.

 

For more information please email info@nationalgamekeepers.org.uk. 

 

If you include grey squirrel control as part of your Higher Tier application, the Forestry Commission will then assess your application. Payments of £60 per hectare of qualifying woodland are paid to assist in the control of grey squirrels to limit that damage to trees, increase the control of the grey squirrel and support regeneration of native woodland. The ultimate goal for this grant is to engage and enable land managers to increase the cull of grey squirrels throughout their woodlands nationally.

The following requirements apply:

  *   Work with your deer officer/woodland officer to produce a Squirrel Control Plan (SCP) outlining the activities you will carry out. To secure the annual funding for this supplement you must email your SCP to your local deer officer/woodland officer by the end of year 1.

  *   Take part in Grey Squirrel control training - your local deer officer/woodland officer will discuss these courses with you.

  *   Erect an agreed number of traps within your woodland as shown in your SCP.

  *   Carry out agreed levels of culling activity as agreed with your deer officer/woodland officer in your SCP. Using the annual cull and effort record provide evidence of culling activity and cull returns and photographic evidence of squirrels killed to the deer officer/woodland officer annually.
 
*   Provide an impact/activity survey to show annual impact, using the activity and Impact Methodology document for guidance, and submit to the Forestry Commission at the end of Years 1, 3 and 5