NEW DEFRA WOODLAND RULES
A pre-requisite of the application process is for woodland owners to obtain accurate maps from Defra confirming their woodland areas. Without agreed maps the payment process could well be delayed as was the case in the well documented Rural Payments Agency payment fiasco over Single Payment Scheme entitlements for farmers. Bearing in mind the chaos and confusion some farmers have been put to in registering their land over the past couple of years, Sarah Woollacott at leading agents, Carver Knowles urges woodland owners to get their applications in as early as possible to ensure that enough time is allowed for Defra to correct any mapping errors. Woollacott says: "Landowners and farmers know from previous experience that getting accurate maps from Defra can sometimes be a difficult and frustrating business. Many Landowners registering for Single Payment Scheme entitlements have had numerous problems with the Rural Land Registry. Fields have been omitted, wrongly allocated or split in half and it has required persistent and time consuming effort to ensure that Defra corrects its errors. This can often take several months and during that time payments can be held up whilst Defra try and sort themselves out." Carver Knowles is able to offer woodland owners a competitive and professional EWGS application service which includes assisting with the mapping process and obtaining accurate digital maps from Defra.Sarah Woollacott is based in the Taunton office of Carver Knowles, a leading firm of Chartered Surveyors, Land Agents, Valuers and Estate Agents.