Seed Sourcing Grant (currently closed)

Project

Read timelines

• projectsour canTree spanand upseed toproduction 3case financialstudies to yearsfind (toout Marchhow 2028)
• youfunding musthelped clearlylandowners, definenurseries whichand outputsother willorganisations.  

  What befunding deliveredis by March 2026

available?
funding

The beyondSSG Marchis 2026currently dependsclosed onfor nextapplications.

All governmentactivities spendingrelated review

• ifto futurethe funding21 isn’tpriority securedspecies forseed 2026/27sourcing andstrategies 2027/28, multi-year agreements will be terminatedfunded at the100% endand ofother 2025/26projects withwill atbe leastfunded 1at month notice

Completion deadline

AgreementsIf areapplying likelyfor toa benon-priority issuedspecies, inyou September/Octobershould 2025.consider Allthe itemssource mustof beyour receivedmatch andfunding workbefore completedapplying byand 27explain Marchthis 2028.

Beforein applying,your ensureapplication. youYou canmay completenot allsource activitiesmatch withinfunding thisfrom timeframe.another YouNature cannot claim for anyClimate spendingFund afterfunded this date.grant. 

Longer-term projects

IfProjects yourmust projecthave extendsa beyondminimum 27total Marchcost 2028,of you£2,000 canto applybe eligible for thefunding. activitiesYou thatmay willsubmit bemore completedthan withinone thebid SSGduring each funding period.

Yourround, applicationbut should:

• showeach whatlead outputsapplicant willmay beonly achievedapply infor thea fundingmaximum period
• explainof how£75,000 theseper contributeannum toacross theall granttheir objectives
• outlinebids anyin futureeach plansfunding beyondround. 

  Before theapplying, fundingmake period

• demonstratesure howyou’re yourconfident SSG-fundedthat workyou wouldcan contributecomplete toall theseactivities long-termand plans 

Changesreceive implementedall foritems 2025

• before the priorityproject speciesend listdate. hasAny beenspend replacedafter withthis ‘SSGdate eligiblewill speciesnot andbe activities’
• all eligible speciesto andclaim associatedfor.

  If activitiesyou willare befollowing fundeda atrecommendation 100%,from species not on the listpriority arespecies notstrategies eligible

• newthat guidanceyou iscannot availablecomplete onfully minimumby requirementsthe andend recommendedof approachesthe for eligible activities
• multi-year funding beyondperiod, Marchyou 2026should candemonstrate bethe appliedoutputs for,that butwill isbe subjectachieved toin the nextfunding governmentperiod spendingand review
• thehow £75,000these maximumcontribute fundingto limitthe nowgrant appliesobjectives. perYou projectshould ratheralso thanexplain perany organisation

Eligibilityplans criteria

Tobeyond be eligible for funding:

• the seedfunding standperiod orand seedhow orchardthe mustwork be in England
• theyour projectSSG proposal mustwould becontribute forto anthese.

  Eligible eligibleactivities species and associatedcosts

  Proposals activitycan outlinedinclude ina thecombination ‘SSGof eligiblethese species and activities’ list

activities:
1. activities

   Management mustof beexisting associatedseed withstands, oneto ofensure thethey eligible forestryare reproductiveproductive materialfor (FRM) categories

2. theseed workcollectors muste.g., notthinning, haveimproving startedaccess, beforeor fundinginstalling approvalfencing. andSeed stands must onlyeither beginalready afterbe aregistered fundingon agreementthe isNational inRegister place

Eligibleof speciesBasic andMaterial activities

Reador theshould listbe ofregistered eligibleon speciesthe andNational activitiesRegister forof detailsBasic Material as part of speciesthe andproposed associatedproject. activitiesThis eligiblemay forinclude funding.bringing Thiscurrent listsource-identified detailsseed minimumsources requirements,under recommendationsmanagement and examplesregistering for:

1. Managementthem ofas a seed standsstand andas seedpart orchards,of tothe improveproject. seedThese productionmust and/orbe facilitatetime-bound seedrather collection.than ongoing activities.

2. Desk studies and field studies to identify and bring additional seed stands onto the National Register of UK Basic Material.

3. Planning and planting of new seed stands, and their registration on the National Register of UK Basic Material.

4. Planning and planting of new seed orchards and their registration on the National Register of UK Basic Material.

YouTo canbe combine multiple eligible activitiesfor infunding:

• the yourproject proposal (formust example,be identifyingrelevant newto standsthe andproduction managingof them).

  Fortree standsseed orfrom species orchardscovered withby multiplethe species:

  • eachUK speciesFRM mustscheme meet(including those in the requirementsvoluntary individuallyscheme)
  • eachthe speciesseed stand or seed orchard must be registeredin separatelyEngland
  • consult the Forestrywork Commission’sto guidancebe onfunded ‘Basicmust Materialnot consistinghave ofcommenced, mixedand stands’

  Eligiblemust categoriesnot of FRM

  Thecommence fundeduntil a funding agreement is in place

• activities must eitherbe involveassociated orwith resultone inof the followingeligible typesFRM ofcategories

Eligible basiccategories material/categories of FRM:

• Source-Identifiedsource-identified seed stands
• Indigenousselected Source-Identifiedand seedtested stands
• Selected seed stands
• Testedqualified seedand stands
• Qualifiedtested seed orchards
• Tested seed orchards

SpecificSource-identified requirementsseed forsources native/naturalisedare andalso non-nativeeligible speciesfor arefunding outlinedunder inthis SSGgrant eligibleif speciesthey andmeet activities.

Eligiblethe costs

Youcriteria canto claimbe for:

• staffregistered costsas includingsource-identified projectseed deliverystands staff,and researchers,are contractorsregistered andas technicalseed advisors:stands personnelas ratespart canof includethe overheadsproposed project.

  Eligible costs that directlymay supportbe theclaimed projectfor include but cannotare benot identifiedlimited asto:

  • staff, aor directcontractor, costcosts for project delivery, including for research and technical advice
  • seeds and saplings
  • consumables and temporary infrastructure required for management of seed standsstands, for example,example fencing
  • contribution sought towards necessarycosts equipment:of forequipment itemsrequired to complete the project. For equipment over £500, the contribution offered will be at the evaluation panel’s discretion
  • travel and subsistence specifically for the SSG grant activityactivity, carried out in the most economically and sustainable way possible

  If

  The youfollowing needexpenditure accessis to Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) seed or data contact MSBUKSeeds@kew.org for costings before submitting your application.

  ineligible:

  Data relating to UK tree seed collections held at the MSB can be found at the UK National Tree Seed Database.

  We cannot fund:

  • ongoing maintenance of seed standsstand orand/or seed orchardsorchard after the project delivery window
  • insurance for capital items or staff
  • repairs and ongoing maintenance to existing or purchased equipment
  • overheadany other travel and subsistence (inclusive of other grant schemes)
  • costs thator willoverheads notsuch directlyas impactrent, and supportutilities apportioned to those staff directly or indirectly employed on the projectproject. 
  • costs incurred outside of the project delivery window
  • costs involved in preparing your application or work on another grant scheme
  • retrospective funding for work that has already been startedstarted/carried or carried out before a grant agreement has been signed
  • capital items relating to seed processing or storage
  • business as usual seed collection

  HowAm toI apply eligible?

  YouThe needSSG is open to emailany usUK-based apublic, completed:private, or third sector organisation that can demonstrate how the grant will be used to enhance the quality, quantity, and diversity of English seed stands and seed orchards. Individual private landowners may also apply for eligible activities on their own land.

  Previous applicants to the SSG, whether successful or unsuccessful, can reapply in this round.

  Applicants to the SSG could include:

  • applicationpublic formand private sector tree nurseries and tree seed suppliers
  • financeresearch spreadsheetinstitutes including public sector research establishments
  • evidencelandowners ofincluding financialprivate viabilityand (ifpublic applicable)landowners and NGOs, agents may make an application on behalf of a landowner
  • NGOs working on tree improvement and other aspects of seed and tree production

  SendForestry theseEngland to ssg@forestrycommission.gov.uk byand 11:55pmForest Research are not eligible for grant funding under the SSG but may be subcontracted on Tuesdaybehalf 19of Augusteligible 2025.organisations to complete SSG related work.

  Consortium applications

  GoYou tocan the apply for the SSG application formin page wherepartnership you’llwith findother theseorganisations. formsIn your application you should identify which organisation will be lead organisation.

  If your application is successful, the lead organisation will become the sole agreement holder and furtherwill guidancebe onthe howsole torecipient completeof grant funding upon receipt of valid claims. They will be responsible for the applicationundertakings formand obligations detailed in any grant agreement, in line with terms and spreadsheet. conditions of funding.

  Attend

  The contractual arrangements held between the ‘howlead toorganisation apply’and webinar

  Ourtheir grantscollaborators teamare willnot guidethe youresponsibility throughof the SSGForestry applicationCommission. processThe atlead ourorganisation ‘howwill tohave apply’sole webinarresponsibility onfor Thursdayonward 12disbursal Juneof 2025grant (2pm).funding Bookto aco-applicants, spacefor atexample.

  How ourto webinar.apply

  The Seed Sourcing Grant is currently closed for applications.

  ThisA issingle astage competitiveapplication grantprocess sowill itbe followed. As this is possiblea thatcompetitive grant, not all eligible applications will receivebe funding.funded.

  InThe your application form,form you will needask you to provide details aboutabout:

  • the yourproject organisation and yourhow proposedit project.fits Youwithin mustthe alsoscope provideof writtenthe responsesfund to 8increase assessedthe questionsquality, thatquantity, willand bediversity scoredof bytree seed available for planting in England
  • the SSGlongevity evaluationof panel.the Yourimpacts financeresulting spreadsheetfrom shouldthe itemiseproposed activities
  • who is in the project coststeam and fundingwhat appliedtheir for.roles Allare
  • your costsapproach shouldto bedelivering exclusivethe ofproject and any recoverabledelivery VAT.

    Localrisks

  • the authorities,impact universitiesthat oran injection of public bodiesfunding maywould needhave toon submitthe evidenceproject
  • the cost of financialthe viability.project Checkand how it represents value for money for the ‘Howproject toteam completeand for the taxpayer
  • the source of your application’match pagefunding if applying for details.

    Ifa non-priority species 

  • whether you needhave toreceived, amendhave yourapplied applicationfor, beforeor theintend deadlineto orapply withdrawfor yourany application,other email ssg@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
    government funds

  AssessmentHow process are applications assessed

  All eligible applications will be scoredevaluated by ana evaluationpanel panel.with Forexpertise detailsand onexperience howof applicationstree areand assessed,seed referproduction toin ‘HowEngland. toIf completethe yourgrant application’.

  Theis evaluationoversubscribed, panelfunding will havebe accessawarded to informationthe abouthighest scoring successful applicants. Any applications deemed to fall outside the deliveryscope of previousthe fund or that do not meet the SSG granteligibility agreementscriteria andwill maynot usebe thisevaluated toand helpwill scorebe rejected. If your application.

  Additionalapplication informationscores requests

  The0 panelfor mayany issueof anthe ‘offerscored inquestions principle’or ifscores theyless needthan more20/40 information.overall, Youit will havebe 2unsuccessful.

  We weeksreserve tothe respond,right andto yournot responseaward willall bethe usedfunding toavailable decideif theinsufficient outcomebids of youran application.

  Applicationappropriate responses

  Youquality are received. All eligible applications will beremain notifiedvalid offor 6 months after the fundingclosing decisiondate. byIf Tuesdaythe 30funds Septemberare 2025.oversubscribed and additional funds become available, we may reconsider valid applications for funding.

  Reporting and payments

  If your application is successful, weyou will issuebe youissued with a grant agreement. Important:

  • do

    You must not begin your project untilbefore youthe havestart signeddate andof returnedyour thegrant agreement toor thebefore Forestry Commission

  • you cannothave claimsigned foryour expenditureagreement.

  Expenditure outside of the funding period

Reporting andwill payments 

Makingnot claims

You canmay claim funds:

• at the end of eachthe financial year
• and at 2 other times of your choosing duringin eachthe financial year

year. You must have received itemsan item or completed a piece of work before you can claim for them.it.

EndWe will pay claims in arrears by BACS transfer following receipt of yearcompleted orclaim endforms. Payment of projectthe reportsclaim will be made within 30 days of the us approving your claim. All claims must accompanybe eachsupported by evidence of all expenditure (i.e., invoices/ timesheets). Where not accompanied by a final or end of year claim,report, whilea progress reportsupdate aremust requiredbe withprovided other claims to showdemonstrate workthat hasworks have been carried out accordingas toper the grant agreement.

YourYou reportsmust submit an end of project report with your final claim. This should detail:

• detail achievement against stated outcomesoutcome and outputs
• outputs, lessons learnt
• and any need for further development

development. Payments may be withheld or reclaimed if reports are not submitted on time.

Payment

Intellectual process

• claimsproperty arerights paidand inrights arrearsto bygenetic BACSresources

  Intellectual transfer

• paymentproperty willand berights madeto withingenetic 22resources workingshall daysremain ofwith claimgrant approval
• allrecipients. claimsGrant mustrecipients includeshould supportinghave evidenceappropriate (i.e.material invoices/timesheets)
• invoicessupply mustagreements bein addressedplace towith the grantlandowners recipientand organisation
• cashother paymentsinterested areparties notinvolved accepted

Usefulin resources 

Forsourcing questionsand aboutfinal planting locations of material to cover ownership of the FRMresulting system,genetic contactresources FRM@forestrycommission.gov.uk.and intellectual property rights.

Data

Long relatingterm touse UKof treethe seed collectionsstands heldand atseed theorchards

All MSBseed stands and orchards funded by SSG canmust be foundregistered aton the UK National TreeRegister Seedof Database.

ForBasic previousMaterial. roundsThey (roundswill 1be subject to 3),the treeusual seed species strategies (PDFFRM, 864inspections KB,(see 64Marketing pages)forest werereproductive producedmaterial for 21forestry ‘priority’purposes species.for Formore thisdetail). roundShould (round 4) these haveinspections beenshow replacedthat by the SSGseed eligiblestand speciesor andorchard activities.is However,not youbeing mayproperly findmaintained during the strategiesperiod usefulof asgrant theyaward, outlinethe idealForestry approachesCommission reserves the right to enhancingclaw seedback sources.funds.

Further information

TheIn 2022 the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) ran an online event ‘Seedevent about ‘Seed Sourcing for Trees of the Future’Future’. inThe 2022.sessions Youcontained a range of guidance and advice that may findbe theirhelpful recordingswhen useful:preparing your SSG application. You can watch the sessions by following these links: 

• session 1: AnWelcome and overview of seed sourcing in England 
• session 2: Anan introduction to Forestforest Reproductivereproductive Materialmaterial (including how to register basic material on the the FRM system) system) 
• session 3: Scientificscientific considerations in seed sourcing (including the importance of genetic diversity) 
• session 4: Commercialcommercial seed collecting and the needs of seed collectors 
• session 5: Approachesapproaches to developing and managing seed sources 
• session 6: Landownerlandowner and manager perspectives

Further information 

The Forestry Commission reserves the right to:

• to change the deadline for applications
• or make changes to the application process at short notice
• notice. The Forestry Commission reserves the right to amend, add to or withdraw all or any part of the funding application process

All changes are recorded onat the bottom of this page (tap(click ‘+‘show show all updates’).updates’) Whereand changeswhere these are made afterfollowing the opening date,date the lead applicant for all applications already received will receivebe communicationcontacted directly by email. Material changes (for example to the closing date or eligibility rules) will also be communicated via the the Forestry Commission’s eAlert.  .  

NeitherIf theyou Forestryneed Commissionto norquery itsany respectiveapplication advisers,requirements directors,or officers,the members,application partners,process, employees,email otherssg@forestrycommission.gov.uk. staff,We oraim agents:

• maketo anyrespond representationto orall warrantyqueries (expresswithin or3 implied)working asdays. If we consider queries to thebe relevant to any accuracy,applicant, reasonableness,we orwill completenessprovide additional guidance to all applicants (via point of thiscontact guidance
• acceptsprovided) anyby responsibilityemail forto theensure informationa containedfair inand thisopen guidance
• acceptsprocess. liabilityWe formay anybe lossunable to respond to other queries or damagerequests (otherdue thanto inthe respectcompetitive ofbid fraudulentprocess.

  The misrepresentation)Forestry arisingCommission asreserves athe resultright ofnot relianceto onanswer suchqueries informationwhere orit anyconsiders subsequentthat communication

Intellectualthe propertyanswer rightswould andor rightsbe likely to geneticprejudice resources 

IntellectualApplicants propertywho andcanvass rightsForestry toCommission geneticor resourcesDefra shallemployees remainassociated with grantthe recipients.SSG Grantmay recipientshave shouldtheir haveapplications appropriaterejected materialfrom supplythe agreementsprocess. Applicants inwho placeare withunable theto landownersaccept standard terms and otherconditions interestedmay partieshave involvedtheir inapplication sourcingeliminated andfrom finalthe plantingapplication locationsprocess. 

The ofForestry materialCommission tomay covercarry ownershipout checks on each application using a variety of government tools including the resultingCabinet geneticOffice’s resourcesautomated grants due diligence tool called ‘Spotlight’ and intellectualbank propertyaccount rights.

Longverification termsoftware. useAs part of the seeddue standsdiligence andprocess, seedthe orchards 

AllThe seedForestry standsCommission andis orchardsnot fundedresponsible for any losses, breakages or injuries incurred by the applicant whilst engaged in activities associated with the SSG must.

Neither bethe registeredForestry onCommission nor its respective advisers, directors, officers, members, partners, employees, other staff, or agents:

• makes any representation or warranty (express or implied) as to the Registeraccuracy, reasonableness, or completeness of UKthis Basicguidance
• accepts Material.any Theyresponsibility willfor undergothe usual information FRM inspectionscontained (see Marketingin Forestthis Reproductiveguidance Materialor for forestrythe purposes forfairness, moreaccuracy detail).

  Ifor inspectionscompleteness revealof that ainformation seednor standshall any of them be liable for any loss or orcharddamage is(other notthan beingin properlyrespect maintainedof duringfraudulent themisrepresentation) grantarising period,as thea Forestryresult Commissionof reservesreliance theon rightsuch toinformation reclaimor funds.

  any subsequent communication

Contact us us

IfYou youcan haveget questionsfurther abouthelp the SSG orfrom the applicationForestry process,Commission contactby usemailing at ssg@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

Find out how to make a a complaint or appeal.