England Woodland Creation Partnerships grants and advice table
Updated 20 November 2025
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.
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 15 years. The funding is to support any landowners for the creation of new woodlands and associated habitats within the National Forest.
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 National Forest map.
Who can apply?
- land owners and tenants
- land managers
- farmers
- community groups
- non-profit organisations
Can I apply year round?
Yes, you can apply year round.
What incentives are available?
The CLS pays 100% of costs for woodland and habitat creation and its management for 15 years.
Is there an agreement period?
15 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?
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 National Forest 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.
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 RPA?
No.
Where can I find out more?
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 including:
- 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 National Forest 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.
What incentives are available?
The Parkland and 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 hectares with 3 trees. No maximum.
Minimum woodland block size
Minimum 0.25 hectares with 3 trees.
Applicant and land registration with the RPA?
No.
Where can I find out more?
Phone: 01283 551211
Email: grants@nationalforest.org
Northern Forest Partnership – Grow Back Greener (Woodland Trust and Community Forest Trust)
The Grow Back Greener programme is co-ordinated by the Woodland Trust on behalf of the Northern Forest Partnership between the Woodland Trust, the Community Forest Trust and four of the Community Forests in the north of England – The Mersey Forest, City of Trees (Greater Manchester), the White Rose Forest and Humber Forest – 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 and a generous establishment grant thanks to a grant from the government’s Nature for Climate Fund.
Is this available nationwide or area specific?
Area specific: The Northern Forest stretches from Liverpool to Hull; through Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and York, covering Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire and parts of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. View the Northern Forest map.
Who can apply?
- land owners
- land managers
- farmers
- community groups
- non-profit organisations
- private businesses
- schools
Can I apply year round?
Yes, you can apply all year round.
What incentives are available?
Up to a 100% of woodland creation and establishment costs can be provided in most cases. Match funding from the applicant will be sought where appropriate.
Is there an agreement period?
All new landowner agreements have 15 year grant agreements.
Can I apply alongside other Forestry Commission grant and funding schemes?
Not for tree planting by itself. Proposed projects that are at least 5 hectares in scale will be encouraged to seek Woodland Creation Planning Grant help to support the more complex feasibility and design work often needed for bigger sites.
Minimum area
0.1 hectares (0.5ha for Woodland Trust).
Minimum woodland block size
0.1 hectares (0.5ha for Woodland Trust).
Applicant and land registration with the RPA?
Land will often be registered with the RPA. However, the application/grant giving process will not involve the RPA directly.
Woodland Creation Partnerships Forest for Cornwall
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.
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 Forest for Cornwall enquiries form.
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 Forest for Cornwall 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 Forest for Cornwall 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 minimum area.
Maximum woodland block size
No maximum area.
Applicant and land registration with the RPA?
This service can be provided if required.
Woodland Creation Partnerships – Great Northumberland Forest
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?
Area specific: any land within the county of Northumberland.
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.
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, 15 years.
Can I apply alongside other Forestry Commission grant and funding schemes?
Yes.
Minimum area
There are potential funding options for schemes of all sizes.
Maximum woodland block size
There are potential funding options for schemes of all sizes.
Applicant and land registration with the RPA?
No.
Where can I find out more?
Email: enquiries.forest@northumberland.gov.uk
England’s Community Forests – Trees for Climate grants
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.
Is this available nationwide or area specific?
These grants and support are available in all of the Community Forest areas. There are currently 15 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?
15 years.
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
No minimum area.
Minimum woodland block size
No maximum area.
Applicant and land registration with the RPA?
This service could potentially be provided if required.
Financial incentives may change annually, please check the relevant website for more details.