Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG)
Funding
£1,500 – £30,500
Deadline
Check with the funder
Location
England
Applications
Rolling applications
Overview
The Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG) pays for the planning work that comes before you plant a new woodland in England. It does not pay for the trees themselves. Instead, it helps you produce a woodland creation design plan that meets the UK Forestry Standard, which you can then use to apply for planting money through the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO). The grant works in two stages. Stage 1 pays £1,500 for a desk-based look at the constraints and opportunities on your site. If the site looks suitable, you are offered Stage 2, which pays £150 per hectare (minus the £1,500 already paid) towards a site appraisal map, a design concept plan and a draft design plan. The total is capped at £30,500 per project. Supplementary payments are available if you need extra surveys, such as a peat depth or archaeology survey. Since 11 December 2024, consultation and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening happen at Stage 2. Your final proposal is published on the Forestry Commission's public consultation register for 21 days, and a County Archaeologist is consulted. The upside is that you will not normally need to repeat consultation or EIA screening when you go on to apply for EWCO. Who it suits: farmers and landowners planning a larger planting scheme of at least 5 hectares who want professional help to get the design right before committing. You can apply all year round. The Forestry Commission aims to respond within 20 working days, and you must have a signed agreement before you start work. GOV.UK does not state a closing date for the scheme. Always check the latest forms on GOV.UK, as they are updated regularly. Official source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/woodland-creation-planning-grant. Last checked by GrantMatch on 14 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- Planned woodland of at least 5 hectares in England
- Landowner consent needed if you are a tenant
- No previous EWCO application or EIA enquiry for the same site
- Signed agreement before starting work
Who can apply: landowners, land managers and public bodies (other than Forestry England). Tenants need the landowner's consent and signature. Land: the planned woodland must be in England and total at least 5 hectares. Each separate block must be at least 0.5 hectares and 20 metres wide. Not eligible: sites where you have already applied for EWCO or made an EIA enquiry to plant new woodland. Cross-border sites: Stage 2 is only paid on the land in England.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
This grant is for landowners, land managers, and public bodies in England who want to create new woodland. It covers the cost of producing a compliant woodland design plan before planting begins. It is not for businesses or individuals outside England or those without land suitable for woodland creation.
Sectors
Regions
Awards published
53,000
Typical award
£11,250
Most awards
£2,895 to £35,000
Most funded region
South West
363 awards in 2025, down from 14,963 the year before.
Recent awards include KIMO UK (£35,745, 2025), Fruits of the Sea Ltd (£74,045, 2025) and Forest of Avon Trust (£25,000, 2025).
Contains data from 360Giving publishers, used under open licence.
Full details from Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs / Forestry Commission – Defra Trees Programme
The Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG) offers funding of up to £30,500 for the production of a UKFS-compliant woodland creation design plan. Landowners, land managers and public bodies can apply. WCPG is open for applications year-round. The ‘Find a grant’ tool requires a ‘closing date’ to be specified, however 31 March 2030 reflects the period WCPG funding is currently confirmed until, rather than a known closure date. The scheme was re-launched in autumn 2020 to enable more people to apply and help proposals move more quickly through the Environmental Impact Assessment process and future planting and establishment grant funding.
Check the grant terms and conditions on GOV.UK, then talk to your local Woodland Creation Officer. Apply using the current WCPG application and plan form from the 'WCPG forms and guidance' page. You can apply at any time of year. An agent can apply for you if you complete a Forestry Commission agent authority form. Do not start work until you have accepted a Stage 1 agreement.
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