Management requirements for woodland supplement WS3 (squirrel control)
Updated 14 May 2025
Applies to England
漏 Crown copyright 2025
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Purpose
This operations note is to be used to determine the appropriate works within woodland supplement 鈥榃S3 squirrel control and management鈥�.
WS3 is only eligible to be used in conjunction with Countryside Stewardship (CS) woodland improvement option WD2 and will be used to support the increased effort to control grey squirrels in woodlands.
Effective use of this supplement will:
- increase resilience within the woodland
- support and help protect red squirrels (where present)
- the biodiversity and structure of the site
Wider environmental benefits are also likely to occur beyond the site boundary.
Learn more about the eligibility and requirements for WS3: Squirrel control and management.
What you need to do
Guidance for each step of the process is provided for each of the mandatory requirements, which are:
Demonstrable increases or maintenance of acceptable levels of grey squirrel control from the start of the CS agreement.
If you鈥檙e in receipt of supplement WS3, you will need to submit the following:聽
- a squirrel control plan
- cull data聽
- surveys and impact assessments
Squirrel control plan (SCP)
A draft squirrel control plan needs to be submitted and agreed with the Woodland Officer or Forestry Commission specialist at the time of application and active from the start of year 1.
Complete the 鈥榃S3.1 Grey squirrel control plan鈥� from the squirrel management requirements page.
Read 鈥榃S3.2 Grey squirrel control plan guidance鈥� to help you complete the plan, this can be found on the squirrel management requirements page.
A reviewed SCP will be agreed with the Woodland Officer or Forestry Commission specialist by the end of year 1.
Erect an agreed number of traps/trap sites and/or bait stations, and/or engage in shooting within your woodland and land within the same holding (Single Business Identifier (SBI) number), which is immediately adjacent to and connected with the relevant WD2 parcels and as shown in your squirrel control plan (capital item FY3 is available for WS3 applications).
Traps and other items are expected to be active throughout the 5-year period.
Cull data
You need to collect cull data annually, including a record of squirrels culled, and time spent culling (effort).
You must submit these at the end of the year 1 and 5 with the revenue claim. This data may be required upon request in year 3.
Use the 鈥榃S3.3 Squirrel cull and effort record鈥� on the squirrel management requirements page.
Surveys and impact assessments
You need to complete an agreed number of impact/activity surveys, and a squirrel survey summary template throughout the agreement.
You must submit these in year 1 and 5 with the revenue claim. This data might be requested in year 3.
Survey summary report
Complete the 鈥榃S3.7 Survey summary report template鈥� on the squirrel management requirements page to record these throughout the agreement.
Impact assessment
Complete 鈥榃S3.5 NFC squirrel activity and impact recording sheet鈥� on the squirrel management requirements page. You can also read the guide 鈥榃S3.6 NFC activity and impact assessment methodology鈥� for more information about squirrel impact recording.
Support and training
Your local Forestry Commission office can provide details of annual training and awareness days. 皇冠体育appse will support you with management plan writing and completing the monitoring requirements.
Opportunities for squirrel control training (trapping and shooting methods of control) will be signposted by your Woodland Officer or Forestry Commission specialist.
How to submit and review documents
When submitting your evidence, make sure that you have used the correct templates.
When you鈥檙e ready to submit the cull data and survey report, or any other WS3 review document requested, send them via email the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). You must title your email with:
- your SBI 苍耻尘产别谤听
- your CRM number and estate name (name of woodland)聽
- the name of the document you鈥檙e submitting聽
- the review year the document relates to (if the document is at year 2 of the 5 year agreement, use the title 鈥榊R2鈥�)聽
An example email title would be: 鈥�123456789 CRM-1234567-A8A9A0 Woods Estate Cull data YR2鈥�.聽
This title template must be used to submit your information.聽
Submit the compulsory evidence in years 1 and 5 to the聽RPA聽at the revenue claim stage to聽[email protected].
皇冠体育app RPA may request additional records in year 3.
Documents will be recorded and you鈥檒l receive an email confirming receipt from the聽RPA.
Only applicants and their agents with authority are allowed to submit these documents.
Further advice
Read Forest Research鈥檚 guidance on .
Read about red squirrel conservation through the .
Search the Countryside Stewardship grant finder for information to help you apply for grant support, or contact your local Forestry Commission office.