England Woodland Creation Partnerships grants and advice table
Updated 5 July 2023
Applies to England
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Here is overview of the grants available for woodland creation as part of a Woodland Creation Partnership (WCP). The WCPs are where Defra has joined forces with forests and other organisations around the country to target specific areas of local tree planting through the Nature for Climate Fund.
Grant information, advice and guidance
Some of our partners do not offer standalone grants in their area as they use grants provided elsewhere. However, they can provide free advice and guidance to help enable tree planting and woodland creation. Further information can be found at the links below or contact your local WCP.
Riverscapes Partnership - Woodlands for Water: get advice about creating woodlands along rivers and watercourses. Email: riverscapes@theriverstrust.org or visit the Riverscapes Partnership website.
National Forest Company - Changing Landscape Scheme/Grant
The Changing Landscape Scheme (CLS) offers 100% of the woodland and habitat creation costs and its management for 10 years. The funding is to support any landowners for the creation of new woodlands and associated habitats within the National Forest. For more information, please see webpage and supporting documents at the bottom of this table.
Is this available nationwide or area specific?
Area specific - within the 200 square miles of the National Forest (spanning parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire). Please see the map.
Who can apply?
- land owners
- land managers
- farmers
- community groups
- non profit organisations
Can I apply year round?
Yes, you can apply year round. See the website below for more information on how to apply.
What incentives are available?
The CLS pays 100% of costs for woodland and habitat creation and its management for 10 years.
Is there an agreement period?
10 years.
Can I apply alongside other Forestry Commission grant and funding schemes?
Restrictions on eligibility include: land which has previously been funded by the former National Forest Tender Scheme and the Woodland Grant Scheme; land which is under an existing Environmental or Countryside Stewardship Scheme; land which is required to be planted to satisfy a planning condition or to fulfil a Section 106 obligation.
Minimum area
The minimum area of land for a CLS application is 1 hectare. No maximum.
Minimum woodland block size
50% of the area must be woodland. Minimum woodland block size of 0.1 hectares.
Applicant and Land Registration with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA)?
Applicants will need to be registered on the Rural Land Register at the Rural Payments Agency.
Where can I find out more?
Visit Changing Landscape Scheme/Grant.
Tel: 01283 551211
Email: grants@nationalforest.org
National Forest Company - Freewoods Scheme/Grant
The Freewoods Scheme offers 100% funding for the professional consultant to design, apply, plant and establish the scheme for the first 3 years.
This funding gives land owners the chance to create their own small woodland, less than 1 hectare in size. The woodland will need to address 1 of the 3 themes incorporated into this grant:
- environmental/Commercial use
- conservation/Landscape use
- amenity
Is this available nationwide or area specific?
Area specific: within the 200 square miles of the National Forest (spanning parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire). View the map.
Who can apply?
- land owners
- land managers
- farmers
- community groups
- non-profit organisations
Can I apply year round?
Yes: visit National Forest website for more information on how to apply.
What incentives are available?
Freewoods pays 100% of woodland and habitat creation and its establishment for 3 years.
Is there an agreement period?
10 years.
Can I apply alongside other Forestry Commission grant and funding schemes?
Restrictions on eligibility include: land which has previously been funded by the former National Forest Tender Scheme and the Woodland Grant Scheme; land which is under an existing Environmental or Countryside Stewardship Scheme; land which is required to be planted to satisfy a planning condition or to fulfil a Section 106 obligation.
Minimum area
The minimum area of land for Freewoods is 0.25 hectares. 1 hectare maximum.
Minimum woodland block size
Minimum woodland block size of 0.1 hectares.
Applicant and land registration with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA)?
No.
Where can I find out more?
Visit National Forest Freewoods Scheme/Grant.
Phone: 01283 551211
email: grants@nationalforest.org
National Forest Company - Parkland and Wood Pasture Scheme/Grant
The Parkland and Wood Pasture Scheme offers 100% funding for the creation of new parkland/wood pasture. The project will be required to include benefits linked to the National Forest Strategy these include:
- visual landscape benefits for the public as well as the site owner
- landscape/ecological connectivity
Is this available nationwide or a specific area?
Area specific - within the 200 square miles of the National Forest (spanning parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire). View the map.
Who can apply?
- land owners
- land managers
- farmers
- community groups
- non-profit organisations
Can I apply year round?
Yes you can apply year round. Visit National Forest: Parkland for more information on how to apply.
What incentives are available?
Parkland & Wood Pasture scheme pays 100% of woodland and habitat creation and its establishment for 10 years.
Is there an agreement period?
5 years.
Can I apply alongside other Forestry Commission grant and funding schemes?
Restrictions on eligibility include: land which has previously been funded by the former National Forest Tender Scheme and the Woodland Grant Scheme; land which is under an existing Environmental or Countryside Stewardship Scheme; land which is required to be planted to satisfy a planning condition or to fulfil a Section 106 obligation.
Minimum area
Minimum 0.25 hectare with 3 trees. No maximum.
Minimum woodland block size
Minimum 0.25 hectares with 3 trees.
Applicant and Land Registration with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA)?
No
Where can I find out more?
Visit National Forest: Parkland.
Phone: 01283 551211
Email: grants@nationalforest.orgwww.nationalforest.
National Forest Company - Small Grants Fund
The Small Grants Fund offers small grants to a range of landowners, community groups and other organisations. The grants will provide funds to support projects that contribute to the aims and objectives of the National Forest. These include works relating (but not limited) to: access and recreation; biodiversity; communities and education; heritage; tourism and awareness raising; urban tree planting; improvements to green spaces.
For more information, see National Forest: Small Grants Fund.
Is this available nationwide or area specific?
Area specific - within the 200 square miles of the National Forest (spanning parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire). View the map
Who can I apply?
- land owners
- land managers
- farmers
- community groups
- non-profit organisations
Can I apply year round?
Yes, you can apply year round but funds are allocated at the start of the financial year and may be fully committed by October. So it is recommended to contact the NFC regarding possible projects early in the financial year. See the website below for more information on when to apply.
What incentives are available?
Ordinarily, Small Grants cover 50% of the total project costs. But volunteer time can be counted towards the 50% match-funding requirement.
Is there an agreement period?
This depends on the types of activities funded and will be agreed at the time.
Can I apply alongside other Forestry Commission grant and funding schemes?
This depends on the types and locations of activities to be funded. Nature for Climate officers will be happy to advise on a case-by-case basis.
Minimum area
None.
Minimum woodland block size
None.
Applicant and Land Registration with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA)?
No.
Where can I find out more?
Visit National Forest: Small Grants Fund.
Phone: 01283 551211
Email: grants@nationalforest.org
Northern Forest Partnership Grow Back Greener (Woodland Trust and CFT)
The Grow Back Greener programme is co-ordinated by the Woodland Trust on behalf of the Northern Forest Partnership betwen the Woodland Trust, Mersey Forest, Manchester City of Trees, White Rose Forest, Humber Forest, and the community Forest Trust, with funding from the Nature for Climate Fund. If you own or manage land in the area, you can apply for up to 100% of the costs of woodland creation thanks to a grant from the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund.
For more information, please visit the Northern Forest website.
Is this available nationwide or area specific?
Area specific to the Northern Forest from Hull to Liverpool including most of North Yorkshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire and also North East Lincolnshire and North Nottinghamshire. Please see the map.
Who can apply?
- land owners
- land managers
- farmers
- community groups
- non-profit organisations
Can I apply year round?
Yes: there are application windows throughout the year. See the Northern Forest website for more information on when to apply.
What incentives are available?
Yes. Up to a 100% of woodland creation and establishment costs can be provided in most cases, with up to 50% for Standard Trees. Match funding from the applicant will be sought where appropriate.
Can I apply alongside other Forestry Commission grant and funding schemes?
Not for tree planting per se. However, proposed projects that are more at least 5 hectares in scale will be encouraged to seek Forestry Commission Woodland Creation Planning Grant to help support the more complex feasibility and design work often needed for bigger sites.
Minimum area
01 hectare.
Minimum woodland block size
0.1 hectare .
Applicant and Land Registration with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA)?
Land will often be registered with the RPA. However, the application/grant giving process will not involve the RPA directly.
Where can I find out more?
Visit the Northern Forest website.
Woodland Creation Partnerships Forest for Cornwall
Summary
This fund is to support landowners however large or small to plant trees on their land across Cornwall. The Forest for Cornwall provide technical and financial support. Funding can include woodland creation, including all materials, advice and support with administrative process. This includes initial site visits, undertaking surveys and assessments, producing planting plans, identifying potential funding sources and support through the funding applications.
For more information, Visit Woodland Creation Partnerships Forest for Cornwall.
Is this available nationwide or area specific?
Area specific - any land within the county of Cornwall.
Who can apply?
- land owners
- land managers
- farmers
- community groups
- non-profit organisations
Can I apply year round?
You can request our support year-round by completing the enquiries form on our website - search ‘Forest for Cornwall’.
What incentives are available?
General support from the team to explore opportunities and scope for tree planting schemes. Support available to access national grant incentives and/or direct funding from F4C where schemes do not fit eligibility criteria.
Is there an agreement period?
Yes - as per national grant requirements of the funding body or directly through F4C funding.
Can I apply alongside other Forestry Commission grant and funding schemes?
Yes, as long as this is not for the same scheme /output.
Minimum area
No.
Maximum woodland block size
No.
Applicant and Land Registration with the RPA?
This service can be provided if required.
Where can I find out more?
Visit Woodland Creation Partnerships Forest for Cornwall
Woodland Creation Partnerships Great Northumberland Forest
Summary
This fund is to support landowners however large or small to plant trees on their land across Northumberland. The Great Northumberland Forest (GNF) will provide technical and financial support. Funding can include woodland creation, including all materials, advice and support with administrative process. This includes initial site visits, undertaking surveys and assessments, producing planting plans, identifying potential funding sources and support making funding applications. If existing grant funding schemes do not fit your plans, GNF may still provide funding.
Is this available nationwide or area specific?
County wide.
Who can apply?
- land owners
- land managers
- farmers
- community groups
- non-profit organisations
Can I apply year round?
Yes - enquiries and applications can be made all year round, contact the GNF team to explore the options enquiries.forest@northumberland.gov.uk.
What incentives are available?
General support from the team to explore opportunities and scope for tree planting schemes. Support available to access national grant incentives and/or direct funding from GNF where schemes do not fit eligibility criteria.
Is there an agreement period?
Yes - as per national grant requirements or if being funded by GNF directly for planting then 15 years.
Can I apply alongside other Forestry Commission grant and funding schemes?
Yes.
Minimum area
No because we have potential funding options for schemes of all sizes.
Maximum woodland block size
No because we have potential funding options for schemes of all sizes.
Applicant and Land Registration with the RPA?
No.
Where can I find out more?
Visit Great Northumberland Forest.
England’s Community Forests - Trees for Climate grants
Who can apply?
Summary
Available within all England Community Forest areas of England, Trees for Climate grants cover up to 100% of the costs of woodland creation and provide up to 15 years of maintenance payments. The fund supports a range of woodland creation schemes, whether it be large scale planting, or a low density or mixed habitat scheme, hedgerows, orchards or woodland pasture. Whatever your woodland creation ambition, your local Community Forest team is available to provide free expert advice where you need it, and support you through the full planning, funding and delivery process.
For more information, please see webpage at the bottom of this table.
Is this available nationwide or area specific?
These grants and support are available in all of the Community Forest areas. There are currently 13 Community Forests across England, from the North East to Plymouth and Devon. Find the locations of England’s Community Forests.
Who can apply?
- landowners
- land managers
- farmers
- community groups
- non-profit organisations
Can I apply year round?
Yes, enquiries can be made all year round contact your local Community Forest to explore options. Contact England’s Community Forests.
What incentives are available?
There is funding available to cover up to 100% costs incurred in the creation of new woodlands, and establishment and maintenance up to 15 years.
Is there an agreement period?
Can I apply alongside other Forestry Commission grant and funding schemes?
Yes, but not if this results in double funding the same scheme / outputs.
Minimum area
Trees for Climate will support schemes of 0.1ha upwards. Hedgerows are eligible.
Minimum woodland block size
No.
Applicant and Land Registration with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA)?
This service could potentially be provided if required.
Where can I find out more?
Visit England’s Community Forests for more information.
Financial incentives may change annually, please check the website for more details.