Forest Creation Grant
Supports landowners and tenants within the National Forest or close to the boundary to create woodland, enhance habitats and deliver environmental, community and economic benefits through tree planting and forest creation projects. The grant uses standard-cost items with rates linked to nationally available tree-planting and agri-environment grants.
- Opening date: (Midnight)
- Closing date: (Midnight)
Contents
Summary
The Forest Creation Grant supports landowners and tenants within the National Forest or close to its boundary to take part in our shared vision of transformation through forests. By planting trees and creating thriving wooded landscapes, applicants help shape a greener, more resilient future for nature, communities and local enterprise.
Whether your aim is to create new woodland, enhance and connect habitats, protect livestock, soils or crops, or develop innovative woodland-based products, this grant offers the support you need to grow forests for the future starting with schemes as small as 0.25 hectares.
Applications are assessed on the contribution they make to the National Forest’s mission: To grow forests for the future: restoring nature, connecting communities and enhancing enterprise.
The Forest Creation Grant is based on a menu of standard‑cost items, each with a fixed rate paid either as a one‑off or annually. These rates are linked to the nationally available tree‑planting and agri‑environment grants. We are required to benchmark our payments against these national schemes so that our funding is fair and consistent with what is available across the country. All rates are reviewed each year to make sure they remain up to date.
Inspirational examples of planting schemes we have funded:
Creating wood pasture by planting clusters of trees and shelterbelts to provide shade, greater capacity for outwintering, high quality cattle grazing, protect soils and expand habitats for birds and insects.
Adding parkland trees and small woodland areas along a cross-country equestrian course to improve the visitor experience and strengthen habitat networks.
Restoring parkland and planting new woodland to support farm diversification, improve permissive access, connect people with farming and nature, enlarge and connect habitats.
Growing productive conifer and broadleaf woodlands to supply sustainable products, power the estate’s heating system and connect habitats.
Planting rows of mixed orchard trees as small‑scale silvopasture in hard‑to‑manage ex-arable field to protect soils, offer shade and make better use of the land.
Creating shelterbelts along watercourses to reduce flood risk, protect water quality, improve soils and support resilient farm management.
Eligibility
Landowners with land inside, or close to, the National Forest boundary. Eligible applicants include individuals, landowning businesses, incorporated organisations, partnerships and community groups capable of entering into a legal agreement. Applicants must be able to demonstrate legal control of the land and meet the obligations of the grant. Larger or more complicated schemes may also require registration on the Rural Land Register to obtain a Single Business Identifier (SBI).
You can find a detailed map of the Forest boundary on our website, just scroll down on this page.
What We Cannot Fund
Projects that do not benefit the National Forest or its communities.
Schemes under 0.25 hectares.
Any works required under planning conditions, including Section 106 obligations.
Planting required under a Felling Licence or Restocking Notice.
Works and activities already funded through other National Forest schemes or other grants.
VAT the applicant can recover from HMRC.
Buildings, vehicles and other similar capital items.
Any work completed before a grant offer is made.
Projects with a more suitable alternative funding source.
Woodland created solely for short‑rotation coppice (SRC) is not eligible for funding. However, SRC components are permitted within wider woodland, where long‑term tree cover is maintained, or within agroforestry systems.
Christmas tree production.
Activities that may damage habitats, archaeology, geology or heritage features.
Projects that degrade or restrict access to the countryside.
Objectives
We prioritise projects that contribute to our three core ambitions for the National Forest:
1. Forests for Nature – transforming landscapes through trees to restore nature and increase resilience.
The impact we want our grants to achieve for nature:
Expand wildlife-rich habitats.
Improve condition of wildlife-rich habitats.
2. Forests for Communities – transforming lives to connect communities and promote wellbeing.
The impact we want our grants to achieve for communities:
Expand access to greenspace.
Increase engagement with nature.
3. Forests for Enterprise – transforming livelihoods to enhance enterprise and inspire innovation.
The impact we want our grants to achieve for enterprise:
Strengthen forest economy.
Drive economic uplift.
Our grants are competitive. Projects that offer excellent value for money, whether by delivering higher quality outcomes or a greater scale of benefits within one or more of our ambitions, are more likely to receive funding. We also assess the overall risk of each proposal.
Dates
How to apply
It can be difficult to know what will work for you and what the National Forest can support. The best first step is usually for a National Forest advisor to visit your land. Before getting in touch, it helps to consider the following:
Where is your land located? Use our online map to check if it falls within the National Forest boundary (scroll down on this page to view it). If it’s outside the boundary, let us know the location - What3Words is useful.
Are there existing land management agreements? For example, Countryside Stewardship.
What are your objectives? Make a note of your top three reasons for wanting to plant trees or create habitats.
Can you sketch your ideas? A simple outline of the areas you think would benefit from planting is a useful starting point.
If you're considering woodland, roughly how large might it be? Over 2 hectares (5 acres) is helpful to flag early.
When you are ready, contact us through our website, by emailing grants@nationalforest.org, or by calling 01283 551 211.