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Guidance

Managing your Tree Production Capital Grant

Updated 11 September 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-production-capital-grant-how-to-make-a-claim/managing-your-tree-production-capital-grant

Use this guidance to understand Tree Production Capital Grant (TPCG) processes and find answers to common questions. 

Read this alongside your grant agreement and the TPCG claims and reporting guidance. 

How to contact us 

Send all emails about your project to TPCG@forestrycommission.gov.uk.   

Key dates 

Claims and reporting deadline 

Submit end of year claims by 11:55pm on: 

  • Saturday 27 March 2027 (for the 2026 to 2027 financial year) 

  • Monday 27 March 2028 (for the 2027 to 2028 financial year) 

You must submit a claim at the end of the financial year (or at the end of your project if that is sooner). You can also submit up to one claim per month. 

You may only claim for items purchased within the financial year in which the claim is submitted. Items purchased before the start of that financial year are not eligible for funding. 

Items must be purchased, and claimed for, within the financial year specified in your grant agreement and finance spreadsheet. 

We will run a claims question and answer drop-in session before the end of year deadline. We will send invites in advance. 

After you submit your final claim, we will be in touch to let you know: 

  • your post-implementation report deadline (3-6 months after submission of final claim) 

  • when your obligation period will end (2 years after submission of final claim) 

Obligation period 

Your obligation period starts from the date you submit your final claim and lasts for 2 years.  

During that time, you must: 

  • retain ownership of items purchased or developed, using your TPCG grant funding 
  • make use of and maintain any items purchased or developed, using your TPCG grant funding for the purpose set out in your grant agreement 
  • submit a post-implementation report  

We may conduct a site visit during this period and will reclaim funds if you have not complied with the above. 

If there is a change in your circumstances and you are not able to comply with the above for any reason, you must contact us as soon as possible. 

Understanding your grant agreement 

Grant recipient 

The grant recipient is the organisation listed at the top of your grant agreement. We can only pay claims to the grant recipient organisation. 

Lead applicant 

The lead applicant is the person who signed your grant agreement. They can sign claim forms and request or approve changes to your grant agreement. 

Project representative 

Project representatives are listed in the ‘Overview of your grant’ section of your grant agreement. They can sign claim forms and request or approve changes to your grant agreement. 

Escalation contact 

The escalation contact is listed in the ‘Overview of your grant’ section of your grant agreement. We will contact them if there is a complaint, appeal or dispute. They can sign claim forms and request or approve changes to your grant agreement. 

Grant addendums 

Grant addendums record significant changes made to your grant agreement. These must be agreed by the Forestry Commission and the lead applicant or project representative.  

Carrying out your funded activities 

When carrying out your funded activities: 

  • prioritise work that is weather-dependent or has a long lead in time to avoid delays  

  • save invoices and receipts 

  • keep a record of any staff time you intend to claim 

  • check that invoices are correct and addressed to the grant recipient organisation 

  • do not make payments in cash 

  • take photos of items or work carried out costing over £1,000 

You can only claim for items or activities on your finance spreadsheet. 

Read the TPCG claims guidance on how to submit a claim. 

Changes to your project 

Any requests to make a change to your project must come from the lead applicant, a project representative or the escalation contact. 

Requesting a change 

Tell us as soon as possible if you want to: 

  • make significant changes to your project 

  • reallocate budget because item costs have changed 

If your proposed changes affect how your budget is allocated between items, submit an amended finance spreadsheet for approval. If you no longer plan to purchase an item, change the grant funded amount for that item to £0. 

Your maximum funding amount cannot be increased, and you cannot move budget between financial years. 

All significant changes need Forestry Commission approval in advance. We may issue you with a grant addendum depending on the nature of the changes. 

Underspend, risks and issues 

Contact us as soon as possible if: 

  • there are major risks, issues or delays to your project 

  • you are predicting significant underspend 

We may be able to provide advice or help you adjust elements of your project. 

Withdrawal from your grant agreement 

If you no longer plan to go ahead with your project, you must let us know as soon as possible and explain the situation clearly. 

We may consider delivery of previous projects when assessing future grant applications. 

Changes to your team or organisation 

Any requests to change your project must come from the lead applicant, a project representative or the escalation contact. 

Changing or adding lead applicants and project representatives 

Contact us if you need to: 

  • add a new project representative to your grant agreement 

  • change the lead applicant on your grant agreement 

We will issue you with a grant addendum. 

If your lead applicant is leaving the organisation, let us know in advance so they can approve the change. 

Change of address, bank details or VAT registration status 

If you are already registered as a Forestry Commission supplier, contact us if there are changes to your address, bank details or VAT registration status 

We will issue you with a supplier amendment form. 

Change of organisation name 

If your organisation name changes, let us know. We will issue you with a grant addendum and ask you to complete a supplier amendment form. 

Transfer of agreement to a different organisation 

We can only pay claims to the grant recipient organisation listed on your grant agreement. 

If you want to change the grant recipient to a different organisation (for example, if you are merging with another organisation), contact us. 

We will review your request. If approved, we will issue you a grant addendum and ask you to complete a supplier creation form. 

Post-implementation report 

Three to 6 months following your final claim, you must complete a post-implementation report.  

A report template and submission deadline will be sent to you after you submit your final claim. 

In the post-implementation report we ask you to describe:  

  • the project activities carried out 

  • any challenges and lessons learnt 

  • the impact these activities have had, including data on increased production rates (where relevant) 

  • your future plans and support needs 

Payments may be reclaimed if reports are not submitted on time. 

Site visits 

We may carry out a site visit at any point during your funding or obligation period. We will contact you to arrange this. 

During the visit, we will discuss your project’s progress, including any challenges, risks, issues and future plans. We will complete a report during the visit and share it with you. 

Useful resources 

Forest reproductive materials (FRM) 

If you sell trees, seeds or cuttings for forestry purposes, you must be registered as an FRM supplier. For more information, visit the Marketing forest reproductive material for forestry purposes guidance page. If you have any questions about the FRM system, email our FRM team at FRM@forestrycommission.gov.uk.  

Tree nursery directories 

We publish tree nursery directories to help connect people who buy trees, with nurseries who grow trees. 

To be added to a directory, contact nursery.directory@forestrycommission.gov.uk.  

You must be a registered FRM supplier to be included in the forest nurseries directory. 

Best practice guides 

The following resources provide information on tree and tree seed production best practice.

Note: these are external resources. The Forestry Commission are not responsible for the accuracy of their content. Some resources were published several years ago, so be aware that regulations and best practice may have changed.

General 

Seed collection and processing 

Providing feedback 

We welcome any feedback about the grant. This helps us to improve our offer and processes. 

We may invite you to provide anonymous feedback via surveys. You can contact us any time at TPCG@forestrycommission.gov.uk.  

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