Guidance

Woodland creation and maintenance grant: Countryside Stewardship

A grant made up of a capital element under which you can apply for support to create a woodland, followed by a maintenance element to maintain it: find out about payment rates and the rules for the scheme.

• From: Forestry Commission, Rural Payments Agency and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 8 August 2019
• Last updated: 1 January 2022
  Show all updates

  1. 1 January 2022

     Woodland Creation has closed for new applications

  2. 20 December 2021

     Update to show the CS Woodland Creation grant is closing to new applications on 31 December 2021

  3. 9 June 2021

     Addition of information about the England Woodland Creation Offer, including a link to more information.

  4. 17 February 2021

     Updated to include a link to the 'How to apply guide'.

  5. 9 February 2021

     This page has been updated to cover the Woodland Creation and Maintenance Grant which is open on 9 February 2021.

  6. 16 September 2020

     Leaflet added to page

  7. 15 July 2020

     New manual added covering domestic regulations for agreements with a start date after 1 January 2021.

  8. 9 July 2020

     Link to manual removed - applications under EU regulations closed on 8 July 2020. New guidance manual (under domestic regulations) will be available from 15 July 2020.

  9. 8 August 2019

     First published.

This guidance was withdrawn on 4 January 2022

The Countryside Stewardship (CS) Woodland creation and maintenance grant closed for applications on 31 December 2021.

Applies to England

The Countryside Stewardship (CS) Woodland Creation Grant closed to new applications on 31 December 2021

You can still apply to create woodland through the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) which is open for applications.

If you currently have a CS Woodland Creation grant you can continue with the capital works as agreed with the Forestry Commission. You will be invited to apply for the 10 year CS Woodland Creation Maintenance agreement (WD1) when the capital works are complete.

England Woodland Creation Offer

The England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) is a new grant to support the creation of new woodland and is administered by the Forestry Commission.

Many of the options offered under the Woodland creation and maintenance grant are available under EWCO and you may be eligible for higher payment rates.

Woodland creation agreements

If you already have a Woodland creation agreement, read information for agreement holders.

Contact us

Rural Payments Agency

(Countryside Stewardship)
PO Box 324
Worksop
S95 1DF

Email ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk

Tel: 03000 200 301

Opening times: 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

Find out about call charges at www.gov.uk/call-charges