Woodland Creation Planning Scheme (Wales)
Funding
£1,000 – £5,000
Deadline
31 December 2026
Location
Wales
Applications
Check the current application window with the funder
Overview
The Woodland Creation Planning Scheme helps farmers and landowners in Wales pay for the plan they need before they can get money to plant trees. It funds a Registered Woodland Planner to write a woodland creation plan for an area of at least 0.25 hectares. The plan is checked by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to make sure it meets the UK Forestry Standard, and is then valid for 5 years. Once verified, you can use it to apply to the Woodland Creation Grant, which pays for the planting itself. If your planting is under 2 hectares, the Welsh Government says you may be able to use the Small Grants: Woodland Creation scheme instead, which does not need a separate plan. Grants are between £1,000 and £5,000. They cover professional advice from a Registered Woodland Planner and the development of the plan. The scheme also covers 80% of the cost of specialist habitat or species surveys, such as bats, breeding birds, vegetation and peat. Farmers, other landowners and land managers can apply. You, or your registered woodland planner, submit an expression of interest on Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online. The overview page says the scheme is open throughout the year, and the Welsh Government's application dates page lists the current window as 5 January to 31 December 2026. NRW offers a free pre-application conversation through its Woodland Plan Verification Team, to check your site is right for trees before you apply. Farming Connect and the NRW Woodland Creation Hub also give technical advice. Who it suits: Welsh farmers thinking about planting 0.25 hectares or more who want to reach the Woodland Creation Grant. Official source: https://www.gov.wales/woodland-creation-planning-scheme-overview. Last checked by GrantMatch on 14 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Key requirements:
- Area of at least 0.25 hectares
- Plan written by a Registered Woodland Planner
- Plan verified by NRW and valid for 5 years
Who can apply: farmers, other landowners and land managers in Wales. Land: a planting area of at least 0.25 hectares. The plan must be prepared by a Registered Woodland Planner and verified by Natural Resources Wales.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
Regions
Full details from Welsh Government (Rural Payments Wales)
Guidance Woodland Creation Planning Scheme: overview Provides financial support to use a registered woodland planner to develop a woodland creation plan for an area of at least 0.25 hectares. Part of: Woodland Creation Planning Scheme (Sub-topic) First published: 24 May 2023 Last updated: 24 May 2023 Contents Introduction The Woodland Creation Planning Scheme provides financial support to use a registered woodland planner to develop a woodland creation plan for an area of at least 0.25 hectares. If less than 2 hectares in size, it may be possible to apply to the Small Grant - Woodland Creation scheme instead. The plan is verified by Natural Resources Wales to make sure it meets the UK Forestry Standard. The plan can then be used to apply to the Woodland Creation Grant for funding to plant the trees. Who can apply Farmers, other landowners and land managers applying for funding to use a registered woodland planner. What the scheme offers The scheme provides grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 for: professional advice from a Registered Woodland Planner development of a woodland creation plan which is UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) compliant, verified by NRW and valid for 5 years The support covers 80% of the costs of undertaking specialist habitat or species survey such as: bats breeding birds vegetation peat How to apply The applicant or a registered woodland planner can apply on Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online by submitting an expression of interest. The scheme is open throughout the year. NRW offer a pre-application service to talk through the woodland creation proposal ahead of making an EOI to ensure the site is right for tree planting at Woodland Plan Verification Team. More Information on: how to apply technical guidance scheme rules terms and conditions how to complete guides are available at Woodland Creation Planning Scheme. Further information A list of Registered woodland planners is available on the Welsh Government website. You can use these planners to prepare your woodland creation plan. NRW has a pre-application service in order to talk through the woodland creation proposal. It can be accessed at Woodland Plan Verification Team. Technical advice is also available from Farming Connect and from the NRW woodland Creation Hub. First published 24 May 2023 Last updated 24 May 2023 Part of Woodland Creation Planning Scheme (Sub-topic)
Submit an expression of interest on RPW Online yourself or through a Registered Woodland Planner. The Welsh Government lists the current window as 5 January to 31 December 2026. RPW Customer Contact Centre: 0300 062 5004.
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