Continuous Cover Forestry

Forest Type 10 (FT10)

The aim of Forest Type 10 – Continuous Cover Forestry is to create production forests which are suitably structured to be managed as continuous cover forests from establishment.

Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) improves biodiversity, soil and water quality and the landscape of the forest, while also increasing its climate change resilience to biotic and abiotic challenges while storing carbon in the forest for perpetuity.

FT10 applicants must select one of the following two scenarios:

Scenario	Planting mixture
Scenario 1: Sitka spruce Other conifers Oak Other broadleaves	The following planting mixture is required: 55% Sitka spruce 25% other conifers (at least two conifer species) 10% Oak 10% Other broadleaves 20% variance for each species will be accepted with a maximum of 55% for Sitka spruce Conifers: Intimate line mixtures or Group mixtures (25 to 100 trees per group) Broadleaves: Small groups (25 to 100 trees per group) Minor species to be planted along the edge of the emerging canopy and / or alongside hedgerows. Mandatory minimum 20% broadleaf requirement
Scenario 2: Sitka spruce or Norway spruce or Western red cedar Other conifers Oak Other broadleaves	The following planting mixture is required: 55% Sitka spruce or Norway spruce or Western red cedar 25% other conifers (at least two conifer species) 10% Oak 10% Other broadleaves 20% variance for each species will be accepted with a maximum of 55% for Sitka spruce Conifers: Intimate line mixtures or Group mixtures (25 to 100 trees per group) Broadleaves: Small groups (25 to 100 trees per group) Minor species to be planted along the edge of the emerging canopy and / or alongside hedgerows. Mandatory minimum 20% broadleaf requirement

Scenario

Planting mixture

Scenario 1:

Sitka spruce
Other conifers
Oak
Other broadleaves

The following planting mixture is required:

55% Sitka spruce
25% other conifers (at least two conifer species)
10% Oak
10% Other broadleaves

20% variance for each species will be accepted with a maximum of 55% for Sitka spruce

Conifers:

Intimate line mixtures or
Group mixtures (25 to 100 trees per group)

Broadleaves:

Small groups (25 to 100 trees per group)

Minor species to be planted along the edge of the emerging canopy and / or alongside hedgerows.

Mandatory minimum 20% broadleaf requirement

Scenario 2:

Sitka spruce or Norway spruce or Western red cedar
Other conifers
Oak
Other broadleaves

The following planting mixture is required:

55% Sitka spruce or Norway spruce or Western red cedar
25% other conifers (at least two conifer species)
10% Oak
10% Other broadleaves

20% variance for each species will be accepted with a maximum of 55% for Sitka spruce

Conifers:

Intimate line mixtures or
Group mixtures (25 to 100 trees per group)

Broadleaves:

Small groups (25 to 100 trees per group)

Minor species to be planted along the edge of the emerging canopy and / or alongside hedgerows.

Mandatory minimum 20% broadleaf requirement

All species must be planted at a stocking rate of 2,500 stems / ha and at a spacing of 2 x 2 metres.

Grant rates

	Forest Type	Grant Rates (excluding fencing) €/ha	Annual Premium Payments €/ha	Number of Premiums for Non-Farmers	Number of Premiums for Farmers
FT10	Continuous Cover Forestry	€5,421	€912	15	20

Additional support measures

A Fencing Grant ensures that newly established forests are fully protected from browsing animals.
An Environment Report Grant will be paid if a report from an ecologist or archaeologist is submitted.

Relevant publication

Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 (PDF)

Further information

For further details, contact your local Teagasc Forestry Adviser.