Trees · England

Forestry Commission England Woodland Creation Offer

Run by Forestry Commission

OpenPlan requiredLast checked October 22, 2026
What you get
Up to £10,200 per hectare for standard capital costs, plus £400 per hectare a year for 15 years maintenance, up to £12,700 per hectare in additional contributions for public benefits, and £1,100 per hectare on low sensitivity land
Who qualifies
Any landowner, land manager or public body in England (including tenants with landlord agreement) with at least 1 hectare to plant.
Where
Landowners and land managers anywhere in England with at least 1 hectare.
Status
Open. Open all year.
Type of payment
Grant
Official program page

What you do

Create new woodland of at least 1 hectare on land you own or manage, with grant funding for planting, protection and 15 years of maintenance.

Requirements

  • At least 1 hectare in total, in blocks of at least 0.1 hectare
  • Woodland at least 20 m wide (10 m for riparian buffers and shelterbelts)
  • Land must be under your management control for the agreement period
  • Land cannot then be used for farming
  • Woodland must meet the UK Forestry Standard
  • Business and due diligence checks; registration on the Rural Payments service

The plan or design it asks for

A UK Forestry Standard compliant woodland creation proposal with maps of the planting compartments (and of any infrastructure), using the Forestry Commission map browser.

Make the plan in Sow

Draw the layout and build the plant list

Sow places plants on a photo of your yard and keeps a list of everything you add. Check Forestry Commission's rules for exactly what to submit.

Start a plan in Sow

How to apply

  1. 1Register on the Rural Payments service
  2. 2Check your land on the Forestry Commission map browser (including low sensitivity areas)
  3. 3Complete the EWCO application form with maps and email it to the Forestry Commission
  4. 4Submit by 31 May to secure an agreement for the next planting season

Timing and deadlines

Apply any time; submit by 31 May for the next planting season. Processing takes 3 to 5 months (12 weeks on the fast track).

Sources

Last checked October 22, 2026. See something out of date? Tell us.

Sow is not affiliated with any of these agencies or utilities. Amounts and rules change, often at the start of a fiscal year, so confirm the details on the official page before you start a project. How we research these programs

Free to cite

Quote it with credit and a link to this page. The amounts and rules come from Forestry Commission's official page, linked above, so check it before you publish.

Source: Sow, “Forestry Commission England Woodland Creation Offer,” Yard rebates directory, checked October 22, 2026, https://www.usesow.com/rebates/england/forestry-commission-england-woodland-creation-offer

More programs near England