Woodland Grants

Funding for planting and managing trees and woodlands can be sourced from a wide variety of Government and Non-Government organisations, and Nicholsons is able to advise on the broad spectrum of grant schemes available to land owners - both large and small.

This page provides an overview of the major grant types we work with; detailing what is available, and highlighting recent changes to existing schemes.

In the interests of simplicity each type of grant is summarised and does not state all of the terms, conditions and rules, so please Contact us for further information or to arrange a visit.

English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) – Forestry Commission
The scheme is split into three basic sections: Woodland Planning, Woodland Maintenance and Woodland Establishment. Landowners agree to works over a 1-5 year period, and a contract is provided detailing when work is to be done and when payment will be received. The scheme proposed will need to demonstrate a clear public benefit.

Woodland Planning Grant
This grant provides a minimum payment of £1000 for a 3+ hectare scheme, with rates of £20 per hectare for larger schemes up to 100 hectares, and £10 thereafter. It enables woodlands to have management plans prepared, and once approved can be amended to include a 5-year grant aid programme of works with appropriate felling permissions.

Woodland Assessment Grant
This provides decision making support for woodland operations, and is used when specialist advice is needed on archaeology, ecology, landscape or public engagement. This may be particularly helpful in understanding the impact a planned operation may have on an aspect of your woodland. Typically a Forestry Commission officer will advise you when you may require such support.

Woodland Regeneration Grant
Grant rates are designed to encourage native broadleaved restocking through better funding. Rates are £1100 per hectare for restocking native species, £350 per hectare for conifers and £1760 if converting conifer woodland, planted on what was previously an ancient woodland site, back to native species.

Woodland Improvement Grants
This is a capital grant and supports works to improve biodiversity, the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the provision of public access in woodlands where required. Rates are based out on a list of standard operation prices provided by the Forestry Commission. The grant contribution will be either 50 or 80 percent of the standard operation prices.
Support is provided for operations including: coppicing, deer fencing, deer management, forest roads and tracks, work supervision and public access facilities.

Woodland Management Grant
This grant is specifically targeted at Ancient and Native Woodland, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s), and woodlands providing public access. Landowners will agree to a suite of works which may include the management of rides, deer populations, invasive species, deadwood, and public access provisions. There is an annual payment of £30 per hectare over the eligible land, and contracts last for 5 years. The grant will cover no more than 70% of the cost of undertaking the agreed works.

Eligible woodlands must have a Forestry Commission approved management plan or be certified under the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS) if the woodland holding is larger than 100 hectares.
In many circumstances woodland may be eligible for both Woodland Improvement and Woodland Management Grant payments. We will be happy to advise you on securing the appropriate grant support.

Woodland Creation Grant
Applications are accepted for this scheme from early Spring until the 30th of September of each year. Each application is judged from a points score depending on which Forestry Commission region the scheme is in. The point score is affected by the species to be planted, area, landscape impact, biodiversity benefit, public access and regional priorities.  It is also affected by proximity to high populations. The standard grant is £1800 per hectare for broadleaves and is paid in two instalments of 80% and 20% over five years. Conifers attract £1200 per hectare, but it is never certain in this geographical area that the grant scheme for conifers will be approved in the first place.

Farmers will be eligible to receive the Farm Woodland Payment. This is an entitlement of up to £300 per hectare per year for 15 years for broadleaved trees, reduced to 10 years for conifers. If less than 25% of their income is generated by farming the annual payment is capped by the EU at €150 per hectare per year. Landowners can still claim for Single Payment Scheme (SPS) on eligible land after it has been planted.
Supplements to the standard grant and Farm Woodland Payments are also available. New plantations close to large populations can secure a further £500 per hectare. Community Woodlands can secure a further £2000 per hectare where the Forestry Commission deem there to be a demand. There are also highly targeted Regional contributions of up to £2000 for landscape enhancement, the buffering of Ancient Woodlands, and for supporting wild bird populations

Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) - Natural England
This is a discretionary grant scheme and eligible farms are able to enter into a 10 year agreement to achieve certain environmental benefits. Funding is provided for annual management and capital works. The work which is grant aided is diverse. and includes: hedge planting/restoration, fencing, tree planting, hedge laying, field headland seeding, meadow seeding and willow pollarding. This scheme is based on a management plan which is developed for the ten-year period. In most circumstances the farm must already have entered into the Entry or Organic Entry Level Stewardship Scheme (ELS or OELS). Both Landowners and their land must be suitably registered with the Rural Payments Agency prior to making any application.

The Farm Wildlife Advisory Group, FWAG, offer a cost effective service to write the management plan and get the scheme approved. Once approved FWAG often recommends that Nicholsons take over the tree and woodland related aspects of the project and complete the work. Figures for each operation vary but hedging, for example, will provide you with a grant of just over £5.00 per metre.

On Farms and Estates where there is a significant woodland element consideration may need to be given as to which grant scheme (Higher Level Stewardship or English Woodland Grant Scheme) the woodlands should be placed under. Natural England and the Forestry Commission officers will make the decision as to what will be most appropriate based upon the owner objectives, and evidence of integration between farm and woodland management. On estates where the woodland cover exceeds 30 hectares they may request that a Woodland Management Plan is produced prior to making any decision.

Local Authority Grants
A few local authorities offer a grant scheme to help fund various tree-related projects with a public benefit. Funds are severely limited and therefore there is usually an application cut-off, so that applications can be judged with the total budget in mind. These can include: tree and hedge planting, hedgerow restoration, willow pollarding, pond restoration, tree surgery and the restoration of historic features in the landscape. All of these must have a clear public benefit i.e. not in private gardens.

If you would like further information, please feel welcome to Contact us. Also, see our other specialised advice pages linked from the Information main menu.