Funding and grants for agroforestry
Updated 4 September 2025
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-and-grants-for-agroforestry/funding-and-grants-for-agroforestry
There is support available for farmers and landowners interested in agroforestry. You may be eligible to apply for one or more of these schemes depending on your circumstances and land type.
Learn more about how agroforestry could benefit your farm in our guide to agroforestry.
Agroforestry plan (PA4)
Agroforestry plan (PA4) is a capital item available all year round.
If you’re considering an agroforestry system, you should complete an agroforestry plan as the first step.
This item is designed to:
- support you in planning, creating, and the ongoing management of your agroforestry system
- take a holistic view to consider how your agroforestry fits within the context of your landholding and local landscape
- outline how agroforestry supports your business objectives and provides environmental benefits that can boost your farm business resilience
- help you to think about the full range of agroforestry options for your land holding in a complete way, which can then inform your entry into funding to create and/or manage your agroforestry
- provide a structured approach to gain any permissions you may need to progress your ideas
- help you consider the sensitivity of the land
You’ll be paid £1268.08 to complete the plan and will receive specialist advice or sign-off from a Forestry Commission Agroforestry Woodland Officer or a Natural England adviser.
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
The Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme is currently closed to new applications.
The SFI agroforestry offer pays farmers and land managers to take up or maintain sustainable farming and land management practices that:
- reduce soil erosion and flooding
- improve water and air quality
- provide shelter for crops and livestock
- contribute to carbon capture and storage
SFI funding for in-field agroforestry is only available on ‘less sensitive land’.
Before you plant in-field agroforestry trees, you must check the sensitivity of the land you plan to plant on. Use our sensitivity map and select the ‘Low sensitivity to agroforestry’ filter.
SFI options
Maintain ‘very low density’ in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (AGF1)
For very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land.
- tree density: 30 to 50 trees per hectare (ha)
- payment rate: £248 per ha per year
Read more about ‘very low density’ in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (AGF1).
Maintain ‘low density’ in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (AGF2)
For low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land.
- tree density: 51 to 130 per hectare (ha)
- payment rate: £385 per ha per year
Read more about ‘low density’ in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (AGF2).
Countryside Stewardship
Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) will open for applications in September 2025.
The CSHT agroforestry offer pays farmers and land managers to take up or maintain sustainable farming and land management practices that:
- reduce soil erosion
- improve water and air quality on agricultural land
- provide shelter for livestock
- reduce flooding
- contribute to net zero targets
CSHT options
Very low density
For ‘very low density’ in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land (CAGF4).
- tree density: 30 to per hectare (ha)
- payment rate: £248 per ha per year
Read more about managing ‘very low density’ in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land (CAGF4).
Low density
For ‘low density’ in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land (CAGF2).
- tree density: 51 to 130 per hectare (ha)
- payment rate: £385 per ha per year
Read more about managing ‘low density’ in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land (CAGF2).
Medium density
For ‘medium’ density in-field agroforestry (CAGF3).
- tree density: 131 to 250 per hectare (ha)
- payment rate: £595 per ha per year
Read more about managing ‘medium’ density in-field agroforestry (CAGF3).
High density
For ‘high density’ in-field agroforestry (CAGF1).
- tree density: 251 to 400 per hectare (ha)
- payment rate: £849 per ha per year
Read more about managing ‘high density’ in-field agroforestry (CAGF1).
To apply for any of these CSHT agroforestry options, you must complete an agroforestry plan (capital item PA4).
Capital payments to establish in-field agroforestry systems
The Capital Grants offer is now closed for new application. A new round is expected to be available in 2026.
There are limits on how much you can apply for in each of the 4 categories. The limits are:
- £25,000 for water quality
- £25,000 for air quality
- £25,000 natural flood management
- £35,000 for boundaries, trees and orchards
The cap does not apply to capital plans or for combined agroforestry capital and CSHT revenue applications.
AF1: Plant an agroforestry woodland tree (currently closed)
You can use this item to plant trees that make up an in-field agroforestry system before applying for a revenue payment.
You’ll be paid £5.40 per tree.
AF2: Plant an agroforestry fruit tree (currently closed)
You can use this item to plant fruit trees that make up an in-field agroforestry system before applying for a maintenance action.
You’ll be paid £17.83 per tree.
AF3: Species diversity bonus supplement (currently closed)
You can use this item on your in-field agroforestry system. You can apply for it if you are establishing 5 or more different species of tree so they each make up at least 10% of the planting.
You can apply for this item at the same time as AF1 or AF2.
You’ll be paid £1.16 per tree.
When planting any trees, their protection is an important consideration. When using capital items AF1 and AF2, you must ensure trees are planted with basic protection, such as individual tree shelters.
The details of your AF1 and AF2 agreement will differ according to land sensitivity and if they are associated with SFI or CSHT agreements.
If you’re planning to plant trees on low sensitivity land, you do not need an agroforestry plan (PA4) if you’re planning to plant at a:
- very low density (30 to 50 trees per hectare) with trees planted informally or in a grid no closer than 15m apart
- low density (51 to 130 trees per hectare) with trees planted in rows no closer than 24m apart and trees within the rows no closer than 3m apart.
You may also need to complete an agricultural Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Natural England will advise you on this.
For any planting on more sensitive land (land outside the low sensitivity to agroforestry data layer) you must have an agroforestry plan approved by the Forestry Commission before you can apply for these capital items, regardless of the planned density of the trees.
Other capital items that could support agroforestry include:
- FG9: Deer fencing (currently closed)
- TE7: Tree guard (wood post and rail) (currently closed)
- TE8: Tree guard (wood post and wire) (currently closed)
- FG1: Fencing (currently closed)
- FG2: Sheep netting (currently closed)
- FG3: Permanent electric fencing (currently closed)
- VED1: Educational access visits (currently closed)
Read more about capital items to support agroforestry on the Countryside Stewardship grant finder tool.
Read more about all annual revenue payments to support agroforestry on the Find funding for land or farms tool.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Agricultural EIA screening
You may need to apply for an agricultural EIA assessment screening from Natural England.
Forestry EIA screening
Where any tree planting reaches “woodland” thresholds, depending on tree species, size, spacing, and density, you may need to apply for forestry EIA screening through the Forestry Commission.
The definition of trees and woodland will help determine whether you need to apply for EIA screening.
Regional funding support
Depending on your location, you can apply for a tree planting grant (including agroforestry) through one of our local Woodland Creation Partners, with many schemes starting from as little as 0.1 ha.
Read more about our local Woodland Creation Partners.
Contact us
If you would like to discuss agroforestry with us, including whether your land is eligible for SFI agroforestry, email: GRNationalTeam@forestrycommission.gov.uk. Title your email as: ‘Agroforestry’ and include your county and postcode in the subject.
Email Natural England at enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk to learn more about agricultural EIAs. Natural England do not give advice on payments or schemes.