AF1: Plant an agroforestry woodland tree
Find out about eligibility and requirements for planting an agroforestry woodland tree.
This item is part of Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Capital Grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.
If 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.
How much you’ll be paid
£5.40 per tree
How this item benefits the environment
An agroforestry system creates a range of benefits and supports the main output of the farm by:
- reducing soil erosion
- providing shelter and shade for livestock
- mitigating the impacts of climate change
- improving water and air quality
- helping to mitigate flood risk
Where you can use this item
You can use this item to plant trees that make up an in-field agroforestry system before applying for a maintenance action (see the ‘Other items and actions you can use with this item’ section below for more information).
In-field agroforestry is where trees are deliberately combined with agriculture on the same piece of land.
Before you plant trees, you must check the sensitivity of the land you plan to plant on using the ‘Land with low sensitivity to agroforestry’ data layer.
Regarding agroforestry, land across England is classified into 2 categories:
- low sensitivity to agroforestry
- more sensitive land (which is all remaining land)
Areas marked in blue on the map are low sensitivity land. All other areas are more sensitive land.
When you need an agroforestry plan
You must have an approved agroforestry plan if you:
- are using this item in a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application
- have breeding waders on your land
- are planting on low sensitivity land, but are not using the planting patterns and tree spacing described in Table 1
- are planting on more sensitive land
You can choose to apply for funding for a PA4: Agroforestry plan. You must have your agroforestry plan approved by the Forestry Commission before you start any work.
When you may need an agricultural Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
You may need a screening decision under the EIA (Agriculture) Regulations when making changes to uncultivated land, semi-natural areas and rural land (check your land type).
If needed, you must apply for a screening decision and get approval to begin the work before you make any changes.
When you may need a forestry EIA
You may need to complete a forestry EIA if will be planting trees in an agroforestry system that meets the Forestry Commission’s definition of woodland. The Forestry Commission can advise you on this.
Read the Environmental Impact Assessments for woodland guidance for more information.
Breeding waders
If you have breeding waders on your land (including on low sensitivity land) you must do an agroforestry plan to show how you will mitigate any impact on them. Breeding waders include:
- lapwing
- redshank
- curlew
- snipe
- oystercatcher
- stone curlew
Sites with areas of ecological, archaeological or historic interest
You must not plant trees where they could damage areas of ecological, archaeological or historic interest.
If you’re planting trees, you must not plant on any historic or archaeological features identified on your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).
Protected sites
You must not plant trees where they could damage protected sites, including:
- sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)
- special areas of conservation (SACs)
- special protection areas (SPAs)
- Ramsar sites
Buffer zones
You may need to create a treeless buffer zone if you’re planting near:
- protected sites
- scheduled monuments
- registered parks and gardens
- registered battlefields
If you’re planting on low sensitivity land and have chosen to create an agroforestry plan, it should include details of any buffer zones you may need to create.
What you must do to use this item
You must have an approved agroforestry plan (if applicable) and any consents or permissions in place before you start work.
You must:
- use Table 1 to follow the correct planting pattern and tree spacing for low sensitivity land at low or very low density if you do not need an agroforestry plan
- use Table 2 to follow the correct planting pattern and tree spacing for any land at any density if you have an approved agroforestry plan
- plant young trees (select the most suitable by checking the agroforestry eligible species list)
- use trees that are free from pests and diseases (get your plants from nurseries with plant health management standards in place, such as nurseries with Plant Healthy certification or similar)
- retain trees for at least 10 years and keep the same number of trees as specified in your agreement
- replace all dead plants in the following planting season (each grant-funded tree must be alive and in good condition by the end of an agreement)
Your trees must be healthy. To establish healthy trees, you must:
- use a planting method that helps survival, with roots fully inserted in the ground with the root collar at ground level (the tree must be firmed in without damaging the stem)
- create a suitable planting position by spraying herbicide in advance, scarifying in lines or preparing a bare patch of land (screefing) with a spade
- keep young trees weed-free for 3 years after planting using a mulch, an appropriate herbicide or weeding by hand
- use tree species appropriate for the soil and climatic conditions that support the planting objectives
- select planting stock that complies with the Forest Reproductive Material Regulations 2002 (contact the Forestry Commission for advice on when this applies)
- plant trees when dormant and protect straight away
- protect young trees from grazing animals and maintain protection until the trees are big enough to survive potential threats
You must not:
- plant within 5 metres (m) of a parcel boundary , hedge or existing tree canopy
- displace any existing priority habitat, including woody priority habitats like existing woodland, wood pasture and parkland and traditional orchards
- plant on peat deeper than 30 centimetres (cm) without the agreement of Natural England or the Forestry Commission
- allow tree guards to cause damage to the growing tree, such as by fastening tree guards to the tree itself
Table 1: In-field agroforestry tree spacing requirements for low sensitivity land at low or very low tree density if you do not need an agroforestry plan
| Land sensitivity and tree density | Number of trees (per ha) | Agroforestry plan required | Planting pattern | Tree spacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low sensitive land, very low density | 30 to 50 | Optional | Informal and grid pattern (evenly spaced across the parcel) | Plant trees at least 15m apart |
| Low sensitive land, low density | 51 to 130 | Optional | Row or alley pattern | Create rows between 24m and 45m apart, plant trees within these rows least 3m apart |
Table 2: In-field agroforestry tree spacing requirements for any land at any density if you have an agroforestry plan
| Land sensitivity and tree density | Number of trees (per ha) | Agroforestry plan required | Planting pattern | Tree spacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All land, very low density | 30 to 50 | Yes | Informal and grid pattern or row or alley pattern | Plant trees between 5m and 45m across the area under agreement or create rows between 10m and 45m apart, plant trees within these rows at least 3m apart |
| All land, low density | 51 to 130 | Yes | Informal and grid pattern or row and alley pattern | Plant trees between 5m and 45m across the area under agreement or create rows between 10m and 45m apart, plant trees within these rows at least 3m apart |
| All land, medium density | 131 to 250 | Yes | Informal and grid pattern or row and alley pattern | Plant trees between 5m and 45m across the area under agreement or create rows between 10m and 45m apart, plant trees within these rows at least 3m apart |
| All land, high density | 251 to 400 | Yes | Informal and grid pattern or row and alley pattern | Plant trees between 5m and 45m across the area under agreement or create rows between 10m and 45m apart, plant trees within these rows at least 3m apart at least 3m apart |
You can contact your local Forestry Commission adviser for more information.
Additional trees to protect in-field agroforestry trees
You can plant additional trees, such as hawthorn, to protect the in-field agroforestry trees that you’ve had funded through AF1 and AF2.
Additional trees must:
- not be funded through another government scheme
- be planted within 2m of the trees funded through AF1 or AF2
These additional trees planted in this way are not funded and do not count towards the overall density of your agroforestry system.
Evidence you must keep
You must keep and provide with your claim:
- receipted invoices showing the number of trees purchased
- photographs of the completed work
Read 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.
If 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.
Other items and actions you can use with this item
Capital items
You can use this item with:
- PA4: Agroforestry plan
- AF2: Plant an in-field agroforestry fruit tree
- AF3: Species diversity bonus supplement
SFI actions
You can use this item with these maintenance actions:
- AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land
- AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land
Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions
You can use this item with:
- CAGF1: Manage high density in-field agroforestry
- CAGF2: Manage low density in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land
- CAGF3: Manage medium density in-field agroforestry
- CAGF4: Manage very low density in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land
Advice to help you use this item
The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.
Planning your agroforestry system
You can design your agroforestry system to benefit crops and livestock, such as by providing shelter and reducing erosion from heavy rainfall or strong winds.
To do this, consider the:
- interaction between your trees and the understory management (how you’re managing the land underneath), particularly with actions on the same parcel
- compatibility of tree species with your crops and livestock, for example competition for light and nutrients
- potential benefits such as shade, shelter and forage
- potential issues such as toxic berries or seeds
- water requirements of your trees and any effects your trees may have on local hydrology
Consider the intended purpose of agroforestry (such as timber, fruit or nut products). This will affect the tree:
- density
- location
- species
Choose a planting pattern to best suit the purpose of your trees and agricultural system. For example, you can design silvoarable systems to allow room for arable operations.
You can find recommendations for planting patterns and tree species using the:
Before establishing an agroforestry system, consider the impact on birds and other wildlife. You can read more about tree planting and breeding waders.
Updates to this page
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Sections 'Where you can use this item' and 'What you must do to use this item' have been updated.
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Updated information under 'What you must do to use this item'
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To establish healthy trees, you must select planting stock that complies with the Forest Reproductive Material Regulations 2002.
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Updated for the closure of SFI 2024.
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Updated Table 2:CSHT in-field agroforestry tree spacing requirements. "More sensitive" land, low and very low density amended to "All" land, low and very low density.
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The page has been updated to add when the items can be used to plant on more sensitive land and the density and planting requirements to use to be eligible for CSHT actions plus the CSHT actions that can be used to maintain the trees once planted.
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First published.