Through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), which is managed in the region by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), funding is available to support new and existing micro-enterprise businesses working in the forestry and woodland sector.

Run in partnership with the Forestry Commission, there is currently £500,000 available to help companies boost their competitiveness, invest in forest extraction handling, processing and storage equipment, or develop woodfuel technologies. People looking to set up their own forestry business are also eligible to apply.

As David Bole, Regional Development Officer at the Forestry Commission East Midlands, explained: "The forestry micro-enterprise grant scheme aims to improve the economic viability of woodland related businesses. Applicants could include an individual who uses wood to make specific products, a forestry contractor looking to buy new timber processing equipment, a business producing woodfuel or a rural firm that wants to reduce its carbon footprint by installing a woodfuel boiler."  

Grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 are available, and full details are available on www.forestry.gov.uk/eastmidlands or by getting in touch with Anne Garner on 01673 843461 or meg@forestry.gsi.gov.uk .

Larger forestry initiatives that require financial backing of over £25,000 can still be supported through the main RDPE programme which emda delivers. Examples of projects that the Agency has recently invested in include Hardwood Logs Ltd, which has seen Simon and Jackie Ludlam, from Matlock, receive a grant of nearly £100,000 to expand the capacity of their log producing facility by up to 400%.

Simon Ludlam said: "The grant from emda means we can now buy an advanced processing machine and a timber trailer with a crane to increase production. We will also be building a larger storage facility which will accommodate a sales area that can be used to market our products. This will help our company to increase its customer base and create three new jobs."

Hardwood Logs Ltd has been running for over 20 years, and was first set up by the couple when they realised the core dairy and beef farming business was no longer viable in generating enough income for the family. With rising oil and gas prices, wood burning stoves continue to gain in popularity, which is why Hardwood Logs has seen a steady growth year on year, and is now one of the larger sustainable wood producers in the East Midlands.

Lincolnshire-based Toft Logs is another rural business that is benefiting from RDPE funding. Stamford-based Michael Robinson currently runs a small livestock operation, and last year started a wood fuel business to help sustain his farming partnership. Just over £30,000 has been awarded by emda to enable his firm to improve the processing, delivery and marketing of its products. 

Andrew Morgan, emda's Skills & Communities Director, said: "Forests and woodlands play a very important role in our rural economy, generating tourism and new product opportunities which support the low carbon agenda. It is important that we fund projects through RDPE which continue to boost the economic advantage of this particular sector."