Tree planting and woodland creation: overview

Trees have far-reaching benefits for you, your land, the environment and for future generations. By planting trees to the UK Forest Standardstandard (UKFS) coupled with financial support and expert advice, woodlands can help you diversify, generate reliable income streams and deliver environmental benefits that support your wider land management goals.

Read our joint statement with Natural England on our position on woodland creation.

FundingGet andsupport help to plan a woodland creation project

If you’reyou planningplan to create woodland in England you may be eligible for a Forestrygrant Commissionfrom grant, such as the WoodlandForestry CreationCommission. Planning Grant (WCPG).

We can givealso youprovide advice and guidance on the legal regulations you’ll need to follow and how to establish your woodland sustainably.

Grants may also be available for planting trees outside of woodland.woodland.

Planning a woodland creation project

WeThe Forestry Commission can helpsupport you to develop the documents you’ll need to plan a woodland creation project.

Landscape and woodland design

For new woodlands in England, you need to carefully design the site to fit within the landscape and accommodate features of interest. UseThe thefollowing guideguidelines for landscape and woodland design for woodland creation tocan help you plan the design of your new woodland.

To get regulatory approval and grant funding for your project, your woodland creation design plan must comply with the UKFSUK Forestry Standard.

You need to develop a written plan supported by a:

• landscape context plan
• site appraisal plan
• design concept plan
• final woodland creation design plan

SeeRead more about what these plans need to show, and see examples, in our guideGuide to planningPlanning newNew woodlandWoodland in England.

ReadFind out more about the forest design process:

• process in the UK Forestry Standard
• and the Practicepractice guide on designDesign techniques for forest management planning

.

Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG)

The Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG) canprovides funding to help cover the costs of producing a UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) compliant woodland creation design plan.

You can apply for up to £150 per hectare, plus a 70% contribution to any specialist surveys that are needed, capped at £30,000 per project.

WCPG is for planning only and does not provide approval to plant. Proposals with a woodland creation design plan that arehas been approved for payment through WCPG are still subject to Environmental Impact Assessment regulations.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

The EIA process involves two stages, but most projects only need to undergo the first stage.

If you want to create a new woodland without grant support from the Forestry Commission you may, depending on the size and location of the proposed project, need to submit a ‘stage 1’Forestry Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations.application.

Funding and grants for woodland creation

You may be eligible for funding and grants to create woodland or plant trees.

We offerThe Forestry Commission offers a range of funding schemes for woodland creation and tree planting, planning, maintenance, and tree health in England.

England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)

Landowners, land managers and public bodies can receive over £10,000 per hectare to create new woodland on areas as small as one hectare.

Funding and grants for non-woodland trees

Local Authority Treescapes Fund

Available to local authorities to support plantingthe andestablishment growingof trees in non-woodland areas, such as urban or rural settings.

Find out more about the Local Authority Treescapes Fund.

Urban Tree Challenge Fund

The fund provides 50% of published standard costs for planting and establishment of trees in urban or peri-urban areas, especially in areas of low canopy cover and high social deprivation.

Find out more about the Urban Tree Challenge Fund.

GetOther funding opportunities

Earn extra income from selling carbon

If your project is not cost-effective with a woodland creation grant alone, you might be able to earn further income by selling carbon credits from your project.

Validation/verification to this standard provides assurance of the carbon savings and access to the voluntary carbon market.

Find out more about the Woodland Carbon Code scheme for buyers and landowners.

Readlandowners moreand aboutread theour The benefits of woodland creation woodsWoods and carbonCarbon and how woodland creation can help tackle climate change..

Woodland Carbon Guarantee

The Woodland Carbon Guarantee provides you with the option to sell your captured carbon in the form of verified carbon creditscredits, (Woodlandcalled Woodland Carbon Units)Units (WCUs), to the government for a guaranteed price.

You must first be registered with the Woodland Carbon Code to be eligible, and planting must not have happened yet.

We run severalmultiple auctions per year forto allocate Woodland Carbon Guarantee funding.funding, Onlyand only those who have already applied are able to take part in future auctions.

Other

You fundingcan opportunities

also read our The benefits of woodland creation Woods and Carbon for more information on how woodland creation can help tackle climate change.

Funding from our partners

We work with a number of partners who offer woodland creation opportunities to help provide an option to suit everyone.

Tree

Protect,Protect Improve,Improve Expand,Expand Sustain (PIES)(PIES) offerOffer

You may be eligible to receive 3three days of fully-funded advice from an expert.expert, Theyproviding canyou providewith vital information to support you in taking the next steps in managing existing woodland and/or creating new wooded areas on your property. The offer is provided by a consortium of partners under the Defra-funded PIES project.

Find out more about the PIES offerOffer and how to apply.

Tax planning

TheTo Conditional Exemption Tax Incentive Scheme was set up to preserve and protect national heritage.heritage This– includesincluding woodland.

Find out if you can get relief from Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax.

When to apply for an Environmental Impact Assessment

The EIA process has 2 stages. Most projects only need to complete the first stage.

If you want to create new woodland without– grant support from us, you may need to apply for a ‘stage 1’ forestry Environmental Impact Assessment. This is dependent on the sizebenefit and location of the proposedpublic, project.

Ifthe yourgovernment proposalintroduced hasthe been‘Conditional approvedExemption forTax aIncentive WoodlandScheme’. CreationFind Planningout Grant,if you canmight submitget therelief planfrom withInheritance yourTax ‘stageand 1’Capital EIAGains application.Tax Youbecause don’tyou needown toa complete all sections of the application form.woodland.

If

Quick you’reguides applyingand tocase usstudies

• If you have completed the Woodland How Creationtrees Planningbenefit Grant for your proposal,farm your approved woodland creation design plan will be used for the EIAbusiness (PDF, process.1.21 SoMB, you2 won’tpages), needwhich tohas completebeen allput oftogether by the EnglandForestry WoodlandCommission Creation Offer application form.

  Find out more about when to apply for an EIA.

  Guides and casethe studies

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• our Plant your future: The case for trees leaflet outlines the far-reaching benefits that trees can bring to your land and the financial and expert support available.you could be eligible for

• our Guide for planning new woodland in England showswalks you through the necessary steps of planning, designing and creating new woodland to help you create a comprehensive plan that will make your woodland sustainable and UKFS compliant.compliant

• our Plant your future: topTop 5 reasons to plant woodland detailsleaflet tells you about the far-reaching benefits that treestree addhave tofor your land, your local community, the environment and for future generations.generations

• the It’s time to branch out: How woodland creation can benefit your farm leaflet outlines the financial incentives and expert support available.that Learnare available, and explains how woodland creation can help you diversify and generate reliable revenue streams.streams

• Theread benefitsabout of woodland creation: woods and water explains the benefits that tree planting and woodland creation bring to water management and water quality.quality in our guide on The benefits of Woodland Creation: Woods and Water

• our The benefits of woodland creation Woods and Carbon

• our The benefits of woodland creation: woodsWoods for natureNature explains how woodland creation can help biodiversity.biodiversity

Case studies

HearTo hear from those who have already completed successful woodland creation projects on their land.land, Readsee our collection page treeTree planting and woodland creation case studies.

Creating sustainable woodlands

UK Forestry Standard (UKFS)

Read the UKUKFS, Forestry Standard. This is the reference standard for sustainable forest management across the UK.

TheThis UKFSguidance applies to all UK woodland and explains the international agreements and conventions that apply to sustainable forest management to address climate change, help biodiversity and protect soil and water resources. It covers all forestry activities in the UK and sets out the legal requirements and best practice standards for owners of woodland.

Sustainability best practice

When designing new woodlands, use the Forest Research tool - Ecological Site Classification Decision Support System (ESC-DSS). This- willto help you select species ecologically suited to your site.

You should also consider how tree species suitability is likely to change in the future. ReadFind moreout about tree species and resilience to climate change.

Habitats and species protection

You need to consider habitats and species already present on the land when planning a new woodland.

Find out more about:

• managing and protecting woodland wildlife
• how to benefit species and habitats biodiversity in your woodland
• creating and managing riparian woodland

You must also plan how best to protect the trees that you plant.

Find out more about:

• tree pests and diseases
• managing threats from destructive animals and invasive species

Contact usthe Forestry Commission

FindGet in touch to find out more about creating woodland on your land. Contact your local Forestry Commission woodland creation team.team:

• Yorkshire and North East - YNEwoodlandcreation@forestrycommission.gov.uk
• North West and West Midlands - NWWMwoodlandcreation@forestrycommission.gov.uk
• East and East Midlands - EEMwoodlandcreation@forestrycommission.gov.uk
• South East and London - SELwoodlandcreation@forestrycommission.gov.uk
• South West - SWwoodlandcreation@forestrycommission.gov.uk