Environmental Land Management (ELM): Test and Trial

A Quick Introduction

Trees and woodland in and around our towns and cities represent a key part of England’s network of green spaces. Just over 10% of England is classed as urban and over 45 million people – 83% of the population – live within these areas. This means that urban forestry has the potential to deliver significant public benefits for the largest proportion of the population.

The Forestry Commission is carrying out an urban-focused Environmental Land Management System (ELMS) Test and Trial to help assess how the new ELMS grant system will work for these areas specifically. The ELMS system will be the new form of support for landowners and farmers when we are no longer within the Common Agricultural Policy. Urban ELMS grants will be of interest to urban land owners, developers going beyond planning obligations and others who influence land use.

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ELMS will pay grants for projects and approaches that create ‘public good’. There are six public goods: water; air; biodiversity; environmental protection; adaptation/mitigation of climate change; and beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment.

Your responses to this survey will be used to inform a final report, where the Forestry Commission will propose recommendations on the best ways to create and maintain urban and peri-urban forestry to provide public goods under the wider ELMS system.

Your support in completing this survey will help shape the way Government invests in new trees and woodlands in England and may help support investment from micro sites in your community to major programmes of investment at landscape scale.

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If you'd like more detail please take a look at the background information and some of our FAQs, which we've supplied as a PDF along with this survey.

How will your project benefit from a Land Management Plan?

A Land Management Plan (LMP) will enable you to bid for Government funding and access expert advice and support via ELMS.

Land Management Plans are a key component in securing Government investment in new tree and woodland projects. Government, through this Test and Trial, will identify existing data and evidence resources and where necessary look to develop new resources to support landowners, stakeholders and communities in preparing the case for investment in new tree and woodland projects. Land Management Plans will help projects, places and Government understand the range of benefits available from new tree and woodland projects.

LMPs will provide a focus for developing projects to help gather partner and community support and enhance the quality of projects proposed.

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The ELM Test and Trial project has been brought to you with support from these partners

12% of survey complete.