Landowners have surveyed more than 2,450 hectares of spruce
woodland in the first year of a grant scheme designed to tackle
the threat of a destructive tree pest.
The Spruce Site Assessment
launched in October 2025. It helps woodland owners to assess
their spruce trees and take proactive steps to address the threat
posed by Ips typographus, also known as the eight-toothed spruce bark
beetle. The grant forms part of the government's wider
approach to tree health.
Ips typographus is a significant threat to spruce trees across
Great Britain and could have devastating effects on our forestry
sector if it becomes established.
The £2,000 grant helps landowners better understand the extent
and condition of their spruce and identify opportunities for
proactive management. This means woodland owners can take the
first steps to reduce the risk of infestation and protect the
health of their woodland.
Building a stronger evidence base for management
decisions
The SSA can
complement existing woodland management plans through condition
scoring and location mapping, giving landowners a stronger
evidence base for management decisions.
The assessment also identifies operational requirements and
constraints at an early stage, including access and harvesting
considerations. This helps landowners and contractors plan
operations and reduces uncertainty around future felling
operations to support smoother project delivery.
By collecting detailed data including timber volumes and stocking
density, the SSA
helps landowners understand both the potential value of timber
and the likely costs associated with felling. As a result, they
are less likely to face unexpected costs or delays later on.
The SSA can also
identify wider improvements for a woodland. For example,
landowners have identified improvements to permanent
infrastructure and access, which will facilitate proactive spruce
removal and support future woodland management.
Supporting proactive spruce management
Since the launch, the SSA has delivered a successful
first year, with woodland owners across a diverse range of sites
accessing support. The surveys have recorded vital information
and provided statistics to help inform future tree health
initiatives.
The scheme has supported a wide range of woodland types and
ownership, with sites ranging from 0.5 hectares to large-scale
woodlands exceeding 400 hectares.
In the first year, 41 agreements have been approved. Through
these, landowners and their agents have surveyed more than 2,450
hectares of spruce woodland, with high risk spruce material
identified in every agreement. This highlights the value of early
assessment and proactive management.
Collectively, the surveys have identified an estimated 26,000
tonnes of spruce that could be removed. Landowners plan to remove
60% of surveyed spruce within 12 months of the survey date. This
is a significant contribution to reducing the quantity of high
risk spruce material available to the beetle, building resilience
against Ips typographus infestations.
The SSA is open for
applications, with a limited number of spaces available.
From the Spruce Site Assessment to the tree health pilot
(THP)
Landowners who complete an SSA may also benefit from
enhanced funding rates for felling through the tree Health pilot,
depending on location. This year, 17 sites that completed an
SSA have gone on to
access funding for proactive felling through THP.
The THP grant provides
funding for woodlands within the Ips typographus demarcated area,
which is made up of the proactive spruce removal area and, within
it, the smaller priority spruce removal area.
Applicants in the priority spruce removal area are eligible to
apply for funding for 80% of actual felling costs, whether or not
they have completed an SSA.
Applicants in the wider proactive spruce removal area (but
outside the priority area) can also access funding for 80% of
actual felling costs, if an SSAhas identified susceptible
spruce and a Woodland Officer has confirmed this.
Applicants in the wider proactive spruce removal area who
haven't completed an SSA may only be eligible for 40%
of actual felling costs.
Find out more about the funding available through the tree health pilot.
Find detailed Spruce Site Assessment
guidance and email the Forestry Commission for support at:
SSAenquiries@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
Learn about how Whiligh Estate has
used the SSA to
reduce the risk of an Ips typographus infestation.
Read more about the eight-toothed spruce bark
beetle (Ips typographus) and find out if your land is within
the proactive spruce removal
area.
