Woodland Creation Grants in England, Wales, Scotland and NI

Planting new woodland is one of the best-funded things a landowner can do, but the money comes through different schemes in each part of the UK, with different minimum sizes, rates and timetables. People search for "EWCO grants", "woodland creation Northern Ireland" and "tree planting grants" in their county, so this guide sets out the main schemes side by side. Every fact comes from the schemes' own pages, checked on the date shown on this page. Rates change, so always check the current guidance before you plan.

The main schemes at a glance

England: the England Woodland Creation Offer

EWCO is the Forestry Commission's main grant for new woodland in England.

What it pays

• Capital works: up to £10,200 per hectare towards standard cost items such as trees, planting and protection. This is a cap, averaged over the gross area of the application, including open space.
• Additional contributions: up to £12,700 per hectare more where the woodland delivers public benefits. The rates include up to £3,300 for nature recovery, £1,000 for flood risk management, £500 for water quality, £2,500 for riparian buffers, up to £600 for woodland close to settlements and up to £3,700 for recreational access.
• Low sensitivity land payment: an optional £1,100 per hectare if the proposal is entirely within a low sensitivity area for woodland creation.
• Maintenance: £400 per hectare a year for 15 years.
• Infrastructure: a contribution to the actual cost of infrastructure for woodland management or recreation, capped at 10% of the total capital cost.

Who and what is eligible

All landowners, land managers and public bodies can apply, including owner occupiers, tenants and landlords (both must agree), licensees and business partnerships. The land must be entirely in England, under your management control for the whole agreement, and at least 1 hectare in total, made up of blocks of at least 0.1 hectare. Woodland must be at least 20 metres wide, or 10 metres for riparian buffers and shelterbelts. Land that is already woodland, developed land and land in dispute is not eligible. Planting and management must follow the UK Forestry Standard.

When to apply

You can apply at any time, and applications take 3 to 5 months to process once complete. To get an agreement in time for the next planting season, the Forestry Commission says you need to submit by 31 May, and if you apply after October an agreement for the coming season is unlikely. Proposals entirely within low sensitivity areas can use the Woodland Creation Fast Track, where the aim is a decision and grant offer within 12 weeks. Once you have an agreement, the work must be completed within 3 years, and you must not start before the agreement is in place.

For proposals of 5 hectares or more, the Woodland Creation Planning Grant helps pay for the survey and design work needed to show the plan meets the UK Forestry Standard. It is open all year.

Wales: Woodland Creation Grant

In Wales, woodland creation is a two-step process.

1. Get a plan approved. The Woodland Creation Planning Scheme gives grants of £1,000 to £5,000 towards a registered woodland planner's advice and a UK Forestry Standard compliant plan, for areas of at least 0.25 hectares, verified by Natural Resources Wales. It also covers 80% of specialist survey costs such as bats, breeding birds, vegetation and peat. The Welsh Government says it is open throughout the year.
2. Apply for the Woodland Creation Grant. This funds tree planting, fencing and gates, with 12 years of maintenance and premium payments. You need an approved plan, a Customer Reference Number from Rural Payments Wales and your land registered on its Land Parcel Identification System.

Window 6 opened on 4 March 2026 and closes on 20 November 2026, with monthly selections. To apply by 20 November, the Welsh Government needs confirmation of a verified plan from NRW by 6 November 2026. All planting and capital works selected in window 6 must be completed and claimed by 31 March 2028.

Payments include maintenance of £422 per hectare in year 1, £316 in year 2, £264 in year 3 and £74 a year from years 4 to 12, and a premium of £387 per hectare a year for 12 years (not for agroforestry). An extra £825 per hectare is available for native broadleaf woodland with at least 800 stems per hectare and at least 80% native broadleaves, planted and claimed by 31 March 2029. Our Rural Payments Wales guide explains the wider RPW system.

Scotland: Forestry Grant Scheme

Scotland's Forestry Grant Scheme supports both new woodland and the management of existing woodland, through eight categories. Two are for creating woodland: Woodland Creation, with nine options from conifer to native broadleaves and small or farm woodland, and Agroforestry. Applications are online only, and you first need to be registered with Rural Payments and Services. Scottish Forestry is clear that you must not start any proposed work before applying, or before you have an approved contract. Read the option guidance carefully, because rates and eligibility differ by option.

Northern Ireland: Forest Service schemes

DAERA's Forest Service says almost all woodlands in Northern Ireland are planted with some form of grant aid, and its Forests for Our Future programme aims to plant 18 million trees, or 9,000 hectares, over ten years.

• Forest Expansion Scheme. For new woodland of 3 hectares or more. It can pay up to 100% of eligible establishment costs for the first 5 years, and annual premia of £469 per hectare for 10 years. Farmers, landowners, estate owners, charities and local councils (establishment grant only) can apply. The latest round closed at 3pm on 19 October 2026.
• Small Woodland Grant Scheme. For new native woodland of 0.2 hectares and over, with a fixed area-based establishment payment, a fencing grant and, where eligible, annual premia for 10 years. DAERA says it is due to open in late November 2026.

Most applicants use a forestry agent, and DAERA publishes a list of contractors and suppliers. You can contact Forest Service on 028 6634 3145.

Free trees for schools and community groups

If you are a school, council, club or community group rather than a landowner, the Woodland Trust gives away free tree packs in Great Britain. Packs of 15, 30, 105 or 420 native saplings are available, up to 420 trees in total, with deliveries in March and November. When we checked, applications were open for March 2027 delivery and expected to close in January. Northern Ireland has its own version.

Tips before you apply

• Start early. In England, aim to submit by 31 May for the next planting season. In Wales, the plan must be verified before you can apply for the grant.
• Do not start work too soon. Every scheme here says work must not start before you have an agreement or contract.
• Use a forestry agent or registered planner. Most schemes expect a professional plan that meets the UK Forestry Standard.
• Think about public benefits. In England, additional contributions for nature, water and access can more than double the capital support.

Browse every live tree planting and woodland grant, see environment funding, or read our farming grants post for wider support for farms and land managers. For bigger projects, our capital grants guide covers how to plan capital funding.