Guidance

Forest for the Nation competition

Updated 20 February 2024

Applies to England

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is running a multi-million-pound grant funding competition to identify a new Forest for the Nation.  

The competition is inspired by the achievements of the National Forest, which has transformed the landscape across 200 square miles of the Midlands since the 1990s. 

The Forest for the Nation will connect more people to nature through woodland creation and woodland management.

How it works 

Defra is funding a two-stage grant funding competition to identify a new Forest for the Nation.

Defra is looking for a diverse range of proposals, including: 

• woodland creation and other tree planting
• the expansion and connection of existing woodlands  
• better management of woodlands to improve their resilience and health 

There will be one overall winner who will get up to £10 million to fund their project and mentorship from the National Forest Company throughout the initial Forest for the Nation implementation period. 

Stage one  

Stage one will open for applications on 3 February 2024 and closes at 10am on 18 March 2024. 

To apply you must submit an outline proposal with your vision for the Forest for the Nation on Defra’s commercial system, Atamis.

Your proposal will need to address the specific success criteria. This includes setting out your innovative yet deliverable vision for transformational landscape change and engaging more people with nature.  

Full details of the criteria are available on Atamis.  

Stage two  

If your bid progresses to stage two, your initial proposal must be developed into a fully evidenced plan which includes:

• full costings
• agreement from an English local authority to receive and distribute the Section 31 grant to you and manage the relationship with you

The National Forest Company will provide advice and support to develop your bid.  

Successful applicants  

There will be a maximum of 4 successful applicants at stage one. You will be told if you are successful via Atamis in April 2024.  

The successful applicants will be offered a 16-week application development grant. These applicants will also receive mentoring from the National Forest Company to strengthen their initial proposals into fully developed and evidenced plans.  

There will be one successful applicant at stage two. The winner will be announced in autumn 2024.  

Defra and the National Forest Company will work with the winner to agree a delivery plan and grant funding for the new Forest for the Nation.

Who can apply  

Defra welcomes applications from organisations across both the public and private sectors.  

You must have agreement from an English local authority to receive and distribute the Section 31 grant to you and manage your relationship.

Projects crossing the Welsh or Scottish borders 

If your project has boundaries that cross the Welsh or Scottish border you are eligible to apply if your proposal can: 

• demonstrate national significance in England 
• provide evidence of support and funding commitment from cross-border partners 

The Section 31 grant must be paid in England, and any related Forest for the Nation funded and branded activity must take place in England.  

Government departments and arm’s length bodies 

Central government departments and arm’s length bodies can apply but only in collaboration with other organisations. They cannot be the lead applicant for a Forest for the Nation project.  

If they are involved in your application you must declare and manage any conflicts of interest. 

Beneficiaries of other woodland creation, tree planting or woodland management government schemes  

If your organisation currently receives funding from other government woodland creation, management, or tree-planting schemes you are eligible to apply.  

You must demonstrate how the Forest for the Nation grant: 

• does not duplicate existing funding 
• would add value  
• would achieve new outcomes that could not be otherwise achieved with existing funding 

This also applies to Woodland Creation Partnerships.  

Woodland Creation Partnerships 

Defra’s Woodland Creation Partnerships (WCPs) are eligible to apply. 

If your proposal would develop a new Forest for the Nation within the existing boundaries of any WCPs then you will need the support of the WCPs. 

This applies to WCPs led by the county councils in Northumberland and Cornwall, the network of England’s Community Forests, and the Northern Forest. 

How to apply 

To apply for stage one you must use Defra’s online tendering system, Atamis.  

If you do not already have an account, then you’ll need to register for Atamis first. 

If you’ve used Atamis before, select ‘Supplier Login’ from the landing page, then enter your username and password to log in. 

When you’re logged in to Atamis, search ‘Forest for the Nation’ and you’ll find the opportunity listing for the scheme.  

You’ll need to read the Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the opportunity listing.  

The ITA provides complete information about the tendering process, including eligibility and assessment criteria. It also includes:  

• the stage one application form  
• the stage one evaluation model 
• a series of response templates to help shape your application 
• materials from the Forest for the Nation overview webinar hosted by Defra and the National Forest Company on 16 January  

Register on Atamis   

To register for Atamis follow these steps:  

1. Go to the Atamis website.

2. Select ‘Register here’. 

3. Set up your organisation account. 

4. You will receive an email with a link to set up a password. 

Help and support with Atamis 

If you need help, email  support@atamis.co.uk or telephone 029 2279 0052.

Webinars

Before stage one opened for applications, Defra and the National Forest Company ran a Forest for the Nation overview webinar on 16 January 2024. Watch a recording of the webinar:

Forest for the Nation webinar. 

Webinar 2

Defra and the National Forest Company ran a follow up webinar session for potential applicants on 19 February 2024. Watch a recording of the webinar:

Forest for the Nation webinar 2.

Contact us 

If you have any questions, or you’d like to register your interest in the competition and receive further information, email  forestforthenation@defra.gov.uk.