This item is part of Protection and Infrastructure grants 2026. You must read the Protection and Infrastructure grants 2026 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.
\nIf you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide to understand the rules and how to apply.
You’ll need to use application code FY2A when you apply for this capital item.
\nUnder this item we will pay 60% of actual costs (including VAT and agent’s fees, where applicable).
\n\nIf you are using your own labour to complete this item, the Rural Payments Agency will pay 80% of the 60% value.
\n\nMaking woodlands more accessible by road allows timber and other forest products to be moved more easily, improving the management of the woodland.
\n\nYou can use this item either:
\n\nif you have an approved woodland management plan or a woodland creation plan
\nif your Forestry Commission adviser agrees that access infrastructure is necessary for the management of your woodland
\nas part of a Woodland Tree Health grant
\nThe Forestry Commission assesses your application for this capital item before you are offered an agreement.
\n\nYou must either:
\n\nhave an existing Forestry Commission approved woodland management plan identifying that poor vehicle access to the woodland is preventing the movement of timber and other forest products
\nhave the agreement of your Forestry Commission adviser that improved access is necessary for the maintenance of your woodland
\nhave the agreement of your Forestry Commission adviser that improved access is needed to remove felled diseased trees from your woodland
\nYou must also prepare and agree a detailed specification, specific to your site setting out
\n\nwhat work is needed
\nhow much timber you expect to produce
\nthe soil conditions on site
\nThe work can include building:
\n\ntracks for mechanised timber from extraction to transfer point
\nhaulage roads and turning points
\nhaulage road entrances or laybys
\nprofiling and paving timber transfer points and stacking areas
\nculverts and other road and track side drainage
\nwoodland security, such as gates for new entrance points
\nThe specification must meet national legislation, following the construction, design and management (CDM) regulations for forest roads and tracks. Read the Forestry Commission’s Operations Note 25 for more information about CDM regulations.
\n\nOnce the specification is agreed, you must provide 3 written quotations for completion of the works, including associated costings with your application. The Forestry Commission will need to agree the quotation with you.
\n\nYou must check if you need any consents or permissions:
\n\nby providing a description of proposed works to the relevant local authority and highways authority to assess if it is permitted development – read about when you need planning permission for more information.
\nwhere a road crosses a watercourse or uses culverts during construction, use or maintenance – contact the relevant local authority or internal drainage boards within an internal drainage district to see if you need consent
\nwhere a new road in a forest needs access to the public highway, you may also need to notify the relevant highways authority
\nYou must send a copy of the local planning authority’s advice and any permits with your initial application.
\n\nThe Forestry Commission will decide whether the work requires consent under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations. This depends on whether your proposal is likely to have a significant effect on the environment.
\n\nYou should discuss and agree requirements that are specific to your site with your adviser. You must not carry out any construction work related to the item unless you have approval from the responsible body.
\n\nYou must keep and provide with your claim:
\n\nreceipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is not available
\nphotographs of the completed work
\nYou must also keep and provide on request:
\n\nany other consents or permissions connected with the work
\nphotographs of the site before works starts
\na Forestry Commission management plan approval letter
\nRead the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants for more information.
\n\nIf you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide.
\n\nIf you’re applying for this item in a Woodland Tree Health grant application, read the record-keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement Holder’s guide: Woodland Tree Health grants.
\n\nYou can use this item Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier action CWD2: Woodland improvement.
\n\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"You can use this item as part of a Woodland Tree Health grant. Added further guidance under section 'What you must do to use this item' and added link to the relevant Agreement holder's guide.","public_timestamp":"2026-07-10T07:16:32Z"},{"note":"This item is part of Protection and Infrastructure grants 2025. You must read the Protection and Infrastructure grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.","public_timestamp":"2025-10-08T10:13:43Z"},{"note":"Added that you'll need to use code FY2A when applying for this capital item.","public_timestamp":"2025-09-15T12:15:21Z"},{"note":"General improvement for clarity.","public_timestamp":"2025-02-03T11:32:09Z"},{"note":"Funding amount updated to 'More than 50% actual costs.'","public_timestamp":"2024-05-31T13:09:47Z"},{"note":"Update to 'How much will be paid' section, 60% of actual costs will be paid.","public_timestamp":"2024-05-14T11:29:50Z"},{"note":"Update to 'Where to use this item' section - The Forestry Commission will assess your application for this capital item before you are offered an agreement. ","public_timestamp":"2022-03-09T09:29:02Z"},{"note":"All sections on this page have been updated. ","public_timestamp":"2022-02-07T09:33:29Z"},{"note":"Page updated to show latest record keeping ","public_timestamp":"2020-02-05T13:17:57Z"},{"note":"Bullet point 'Consent from local planning authority, if required' moved from 'Applicants to send with their application' to 'Agreement holders to keep and supply with claim'.","public_timestamp":"2019-04-01T12:56:13Z"},{"note":"Includes Woodland Creation Grant.","public_timestamp":"2017-09-14T08:45:11Z"},{"note":"Updated for 2017 applications.","public_timestamp":"2017-03-08T16:55:20Z"},{"note":"Information updated for applications in 2016.","public_timestamp":"2016-03-29T13:42:43Z"},{"note":"First published.","public_timestamp":"2015-04-02T11:00:22Z"}],"headers":[{"id":"how-much-youll-be-paid","level":2,"text":"How much you'll be paid"},{"id":"how-this-item-benefits-the-environment","level":2,"text":"How this item benefits the environment"},{"id":"where-you-can-use-this-item","level":2,"text":"Where you can use this item"},{"id":"what-you-must-do-to-use-this-item","level":2,"text":"What you must do to use this item"},{"id":"evidence-you-must-keep","level":2,"text":"Evidence you must keep"},{"id":"actions-you-can-use-with-this-item","level":2,"text":"Actions you can use with this item"}],"max_cache_time":10,"metadata":{"grant_type":"capital-item","land_use":["uplands","woodland"]},"temporary_update_type":false},"document_type":"countryside_stewardship_grant","first_published_at":"2015-04-02T12:00:22+01:00","links":{"available_translations":[{"api_path":"/api/content/countryside-stewardship-grants/woodland-infrastructure-fy2","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/countryside-stewardship-grants/woodland-infrastructure-fy2","base_path":"/countryside-stewardship-grants/woodland-infrastructure-fy2","content_id":"16e7acde-fe77-4f85-b4f7-d76674cc2bd0","document_type":"countryside_stewardship_grant","links":{},"locale":"en","public_updated_at":"2026-07-10T07:16:32Z","schema_name":"specialist_document","title":"FY2: Woodland infrastructure ","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/woodland-infrastructure-fy2","withdrawn":false}],"finder":[{"api_path":"/api/content/capital-grant-finder","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/capital-grant-finder","base_path":"/capital-grant-finder","content_id":"0eb7b150-879a-4c44-becc-718e23a77e2c","details":{"facets":[{"allowed_values":[{"label":"Capital item","value":"capital-item"},{"label":"Supplement","value":"supplement"}],"display_as_result_metadata":false,"filterable":true,"key":"grant_type","name":"Grant type","preposition":"of type","type":"text"},{"allowed_values":[{"label":"Air quality","value":"air-quality"},{"label":"Arable land","value":"arable-land"},{"label":"Biodiversity","value":"biodiversity"},{"label":"Boundaries","value":"boundaries"},{"label":"Coast","value":"coast"},{"label":"Educational access","value":"educational-access"},{"label":"Flood risk","value":"flood-risk"},{"label":"Grassland","value":"grassland"},{"label":"Historic environment","value":"historic-environment"},{"label":"Livestock management","value":"livestock-management"},{"label":"Organic land","value":"organic-land"},{"label":"Priority habitats","value":"priority-habitats"},{"label":"Trees (non-woodland)","value":"trees-non-woodland"},{"label":"Uplands","value":"uplands"},{"label":"Vegetation control","value":"vegetation-control"},{"label":"Water quality","value":"water-quality"},{"label":"Pollinators and wildlife","value":"wildlife-package"},{"label":"Woodland","value":"woodland"}],"display_as_result_metadata":false,"filterable":true,"key":"land_use","name":"Areas of interest","preposition":"with","type":"text"}],"index_documents_in_search_engines":true,"show_metadata_block":true,"show_table_of_contents":true},"document_type":"finder","links":{},"locale":"en","public_updated_at":"2026-04-09T09:03:44Z","schema_name":"finder","title":"Capital grant finder","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/capital-grant-finder","withdrawn":false}],"organisations":[{"analytics_identifier":"EA58","api_path":"/api/content/government/organisations/rural-payments-agency","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/government/organisations/rural-payments-agency","base_path":"/government/organisations/rural-payments-agency","content_id":"e8fae147-6232-4163-a3f1-1c15b755a8a4","details":{"acronym":"RPA","brand":"department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs","default_news_image":null,"logo":{"crest":"single-identity","formatted_title":"Rural Payments