SSG eligible species and activities
Updated 24 April 2025
Applies to England
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This publication is available at /government/publications/seed-sourcing-grant-application-form/ssg-eligible-species-and-activities
Use this list of eligible species and activities when applying for the Seed Sourcing Grant (SSG).
Go back to the SSG application form page.
This list details which species and associated activities are eligible for funding. The eligible activities are outlined with minimum requirements, recommendations and examples.
1. and 2. Management of seed stands or orchards and identification of seed stands
Activity 1: Management of seed stands and seed orchards - to improve seed production and/or facilitate seed collection.
Activity 2: Desk and field studies - to identify and bring additional seed stands onto the Register of UK Basic Material.
A seed stand is a group of trees that has been identified or set aside specifically as a seed source. To be registered on the Register of UK Basic Material, Source-Identified seed stands should typically comprise at least 30 trees of the species for a monoecious species (both sexes per tree) or 60 trees for a dioecious species (separate male and female trees). Selected seed stands should typically comprise at least 100 trees of the species (see ). These are minimum requirements for registration.
The evaluation panel will favour applications for stands with a greater number of individuals as these will deliver greater seed production and comprise more genetic diversity.
Proposals can involve the assessment, appropriate registration and/or management of existing provenance trials as seed stands or orchards.
For native or naturalised species, SSG will only support identification and management of Indigenous Source-Identified (), Selected or Tested seed stands, or management of seed orchards.
For non-native species, the SSG will support the identification and management of Source-Identified, Selected or Tested seed stands, or management of seed orchards.
Refer to the list of eligible native and non-native species for these eligible activities.
Eligible seed stand or orchard management activities include but are not limited to:
- understory management
- protection
- access and ride management
- thinning and selective felling
- pruning
Seed stands and orchards must either already be registered on the Register of UK Basic Material or should be registered on the Register of UK Basic Material as part of the proposed project.
Eligible desk or field studies activities include but are not limited to:
- researching potential sites
- visiting and surveying sites
3. Planning and planting of new seed stands
Activity 3: Planning and planting of new seed stands - including their registration on the Register of UK Basic Material.
A seed stand is a group of trees that has been identified or set aside specifically as a seed source. To be registered on the Register of UK Basic Material, Source-Identified seed stands should typically comprise at least 30 trees of the species for a monoecious species (both sexes per tree) or 60 trees for a dioecious species (separate male and female trees). These are minimum requirements for registration.
The evaluation panel will favour applications which follow the recommendations below to maximise genetic diversity. It is recommended that more seedlings are raised than are required in order to ensure all parent trees are represented in the final seed stand. Also, initial plantings may be at higher densities to maximise the early volume of seed produced, but as plants grow they may be thinned to allow the more productive plants space to mature.
For native or naturalised species, the source material should be drawn from across the range or across a large geographic area in order to deliver genetically diverse, regional seed stands. Seed stands should be planted using source material from sites which can be assumed to have regenerated naturally since the existing woodland on the site became established, avoiding recently introduced and hybrid populations. Ideally projects should source material from at least 10 different suitable populations and 20 mother trees per population.Â
For non-native species, seed used to create seed stands should be of known provenance/origin suitable for the planting site. Care should be taken to match the elevation of the provenance with the elevation of the planting site and consideration should be given for differences in performance of provenances in East and West England. Preference should be given to UK-adapted material. The source material should be genetically diverse i.e. collected from at least 50 to 100 mother trees. Seed stands for these species should be at least 1 hectare at normal forestry stocking density to allow for potential future plus tree selection.
Refer to the list of eligible native and non-native species for these eligible activities.
Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
- researching appropriate source material
- collection or other sourcing of source material
- propagation of source material
- preparation of planting site and planting out saplings
If the planting of your seed stand occurs during the funding period, you will need to register it on the Register of UK Basic Materials before making your final claim.
4. Planning and planting of new seed orchards
Activity 4: Planning and planting of new seed orchards - including their registration on the Register of UK Basic Material.
Seed orchards are areas where superior phenotypes or genotypes are established and managed intensively and entirely for seed production (see ).
There are 2 approaches to creating seed orchards:
- seedling seed orchards comprising seedling progeny of plus trees which can later be thinned to the best progeny based on evaluation data
- clonal seed orchards comprising genetically identical clonal representatives or ramets created by vegetative propagation.
Development of seed orchards is a significant and lengthy process involving the development of improved material. SSG will fund projects that contribute towards the development of seed orchards.
When developing your proposal, you should refer to appropriate guidance such as the and . We will expect proposals to refer to this, or similar guidance and to show how proposed activities take into account species biology and rarity, the need to maintain genetic diversity while delivering genetic gain, and the purpose of the orchard.
Eligible activities include but are not limited to:
- researching appropriate sites for collecting source material
- collection of source material
- propagation of source material
- preparation of planting site and planting out saplings
If the planting of your seed orchard occurs during the funding period, you will need to register it on the Register of UK Basic Materials before making your final claim.
Non-native species list
Use this table to find out which non-native species is eligible for each activity.
| Eligible species | 1. Management of seed stands or orchards | 2. Identification of seed stands | 3. Planting new seed stands | 4. Planting new seed orchards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic cedar (Cedrus atlantica) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |
| Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)  | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Corsican pine in UK (Pinus nigra subsp. laricio)  | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |
| Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |
| Grand fir (Abies grandis) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |
| Grey alder  (Alnus incana) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)  | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Lawson’s cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |
| Macedonian pine  (Pinus peuce) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |
| Norway maple (Acer platanoides) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | Yes |
| Norway spruce (Picea abies) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |
| Omorika spruce (Picea omorika) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Red oak (Quercus rubra) | Yes | ±·´ÇÌýÌý | No | No |
| Western hemlock  (Tsuga heterophylla) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | Yes |
| Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | Yes |
Native or naturalised species list
Use this table to find out which native or naturalised species is eligible for each activity.
| Eligible species | 1. Management of seed stands or orchards | 2. Identification of seed stands | 3. Planting new seed stands | 4. Planting new seed orchards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen (Populus tremula) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | Yes |
| Beech (Fagus sylvatica)  | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | Yes |
| Bird cherry (Prunus padus) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Blackthorn  (Prunus spinosa) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Elder (Sambucus nigra) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Field maple (Acer campestre) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | Yes |
| Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) | Yes | ±·´ÇÌýÌý | No | No |
| Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Hazel (Corylus avellana) | Yes | ±·´ÇÌýÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Holly (Ilex aquifolium) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | Yes |
| Juniper (Juniperus communis) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |
| Pedunculate oak  (Quercus robur) | Yes | ±·´ÇÌýÌý | No | Yes |
| Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Service tree (Sorbus torminalis) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | Yes |
| Sessile oak  (Quercus petraea) | Yes | ±·´ÇÌýÌý | No | Yes |
| Small leaved lime (Tilia cordata) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |
| Spindle (Euonymus europaeus) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Whitebeam (Sorbus aria) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Wild apple  (Malus sylvestris) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | Yes |
| Wild cherry (Prunus avium) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |
| Wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No |
| Wych elm (Ulmus glabra) | No | ±·´ÇÌýÌý | No | Yes |
| Yew (Taxus baccata) | Yes | ³Û±ð²õÌý | No | No |