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Provides financial support for creating larger areas of woodland.

First published:
24 May 2023
Last updated:

Introduction

This grant provides financial support for creating larger areas of woodland or small areas not suitable for the Small Grants - Woodland Creation Scheme.

The next application window will open on Monday 24 July 2023 and close on 15 September 2023, with £11.05 million of grant funding available in total. 

Who can apply

Farmers, land managers and other landowners can apply for the scheme. Applicants must have a verified Woodland Creation Plan before applying. Funding is available to create a plan through the Woodland Creation Planning Scheme.  

The minimum area of land for an application is 0.25ha. There is no maximum area.

What the scheme offers

The scheme provides funding for the planting of trees and the installation of fencing and gates.

It also offers 12 years of maintenance and premium payments (compensation for loss of agricultural income).

Planting trees under the scheme will not affect Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments or land eligibility.

Payment rates

Successful applicants will be paid for each hectare of trees they plant. Payment amounts depend on the type of planting and the numbers of trees planted in each hectare of land: 

Payment rates
Category Trees per hectare Payment per hectare

Native Biodiversity

1,100

£3,302

Native Biodiversity

1,600

£4,550

Enhanced Mixture

2,500

£5,146

Native Carbon

2,500

£6,170

Agroforestry

80

£1,600

The scheme also pays for fencing and gates to be installed around tree planting areas. The payment rates are:

  • fencing – £8.32 per metre
  • deer fencing (from window 3) - £11.93 per metre
  • standard gate (metal) - £221 each
  • standard gate (softwood) - £291.75 each
  • standard gate (hardwood) - £669.41 each
  • timber bridle gate and posts - £220.83 each
  • timber kissing gate and posts - £237.80 each 

The scheme provides annual maintenance payments per hectare to look after the trees over a 12 year period as below. This does not apply to the agroforestry option which receives £30 per hectare per annum over a 5 year period.

Maintenance payments per hectare

Yr1

Yr2

Yr3

Yr4

Yr5

Yr6

Yr7

Yr8

Yr9

Yr10

Yr11

Yr12

£400

£300

£250

£70

£70

£70

£70

£70

£70

£70

£70

£70

To compensate for the loss of agricultural income on the land that trees are planted on, the scheme also provides annual premium payments of £350 per hectare (this is not available for Agroforestry schemes).

How to apply

There will be a number of application windows throughout the year. Before applying, applicants must first have a woodland creation plan through the Woodland Creation Planning Scheme.

To apply for the scheme, submit an Expression of Interest on Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online. Technical advice is available from Farming Connect and from the NRW woodland Creation Hub

More Information on:

  • how to apply,
  • technical guidance
  • scheme rules
  • terms and conditions
  • how to complete guides

are available at Woodland Creation Grant.

Further information

For further advice on policies and grants phone the Farm Liaison Service - Farm Liaison Service.