CWS1 & CWS3 Grants: Comprehensive Guide for Woodland Owners and Conservationists

26 Sept

Managing UK woodlands sustainably requires tackling two major challenges: deer overpopulation and grey squirrel damage. The Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme offers two key grants to support landowners:

CWS1 – Deer Control & Management
CWS3 – Grey Squirrel Control & Management

Both grants provide funding to protect woodland regeneration, enhance biodiversity, and implement ecologist-led deer management and wildlife management strategies.

CWS1: Deer Control & Deer Management

Why Deer Management is Critical

High deer populations can severely impact UK woodlands:

Overbrowsing prevents natural regeneration of trees and understorey vegetation
Loss of habitat for birds, insects, and small mammals
Increased risk of disease and crop damage

Without active deer management, woodlands can become ecologically imbalanced, leading to long-term degradation.

CWS1 Funding and Requirements

The CWS1 grant provides 10-year funding (~£105/ha/year) for landowners to manage deer populations effectively. To qualify, you must:

Draft and submit a Deer Management Plan (DMP) in Year 1
Install deer monitoring exclosures to assess browsing impact in Years 1, 3, and 5
Conduct annual culls or control measures as agreed in your DMP
Carry out habitat impact assessments and submit photographic evidence
Maintain full documentation to satisfy RPA audits

How WILDFORCE Supports Deer Management

Our ecologist-led consultancy guides you through every step:

Preparing compliant DMPs
Installing exclosures in representative woodland areas
Recording culls and monitoring impact
Advising on sustainable deer control and management methods

With Wildforce, you don’t just meet grant requirements — you restore woodland health and biodiversity.

CWS3: Grey Squirrel Control & Management

The Threat of Grey Squirrels

Grey squirrels are an invasive species in the UK, causing:

Bark stripping and damage to young trees
Suppression of woodland regeneration
Threats to native red squirrels and biodiversity

CWS3 Funding and Requirements

The CWS3 grant provides long-term funding (~£60/ha/year) to support ethical and sustainable grey squirrel control. Requirements include:

Baseline surveys and monitoring sites in Year 1
Carrying out agreed control measures in line with a species management plan
Conducting habitat impact assessments in Years 1, 5, and 10
Keeping comprehensive records to demonstrate compliance

WILDFORCE’S Expert Support

We help landowners plan, implement, and monitor grey squirrel control:

Ecologist-led species management plans
Targeted monitoring and culling strategies
Habitat impact assessments and reporting
Long-term woodland health and biodiversity restoration

Why Apply for CWS1 and CWS3 Together

Many UK woodlands face combined threats from deer and grey squirrels. Applying for both grants ensures:

Holistic woodland protection
Improved regeneration of trees and understorey plants
Enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem resilience
Compliance with UK Forestry Standards and Countryside Stewardship

Wildforce Ltd provides one-stop ecologist-led consultancy to help landowners secure funding, implement effective deer management and wildlife management, and monitor ecological outcomes.