Funding for tree planting

England

MOREwoods

A simple scheme from the Woodland Trust to help you create beautiful new native woodland.

With our expert help and advice in just 12 years you could be walking through your own flourishing young forest of native trees; oak, ash, hazel or rowan.

Specialist woodland creation advisors are in place and can offer site visits and advice based on four decades of planting expertise.

Previous MOREwoods schemes have created some 210 hectares of new native woodland across 160 sites, with planting motivated by a range of uses from shade for livestock to a legacy for future generations, to shelter for crops and game cover.

Native woods are a haven for wildlife and beneficial for our health and well being.  They can also provide excellent game cover, produce timber and woodfuel, help with pollution control, reduce soil erosion and can make an important contribution to addressing the challenges of climate change.

MOREwoods is available to landowners throughout the UK with a minimum of one hectare (2.5 acres) but that could comprise a number of smaller areas.

Your application will be favoured if you can
contribute towards the scheme or do some of the work
yourself or if you are happy for your scheme to go forward for Forestry Commission funding.

 

 

• click here to provide some details for our advisers to contact you 
   
• phone 0845 293 5689
   
• email woodlandcreation@woodlandtrust.org.uk 

 

 

English Woodland Grant Scheme

Funding is available throughout England for the creation of native woodland through the Forestry Commission’s English Woodland Grant Scheme. 

This grant scheme offers 6 grant types; 5 grants are for the management of existing woodland and one is for woodland creation - aptly called the Woodland Creation Grant.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the Woodland Creation Grant you must want to plant a minimum of 0.25 ha (no narrower than 30m on average, with 15m as an absolute minimum width at any point) and the land must not have been under woodland cover for at least 10 years.  Applications must be received before the work commences.

contact an adviser to discuss in more detail 

  

 

Scoring system:

The grant is available on a competitive basis using a point system that scores applications against national and regional priorities.  National priorities include creating woodlands:

• Near to where people live
• For wildlife, particularly where they can buffer existing habitats
• To enhance the landscape

Each region has a ‘fast track’ score, and any application that reaches this score will be processed before the 30th September deadline, providing funds are still available.

A complete list of priorities can be found by clicking on www.forestry.gov.uk/ewgs-wcg and downloading the Woodland Creation Guide and the regional Score Form Guides. 

 

Grant Rates:

There are three elements to the Forestry Commission’s grant for new woodland: 

Woodland Creation Grant - This contributes to the costs of establishing the new woodland

 

Woodland type	Density (trees / ha)	Rate / ha
Native woodland	1600	£1800
Standard (broadleaved, not strictly native)	2250	£1800
Small standard (broadleaved, not strictly native)	1100	£1800

  

Additional Contributions - An additional grant of up to £2000/ ha is available for schemes meeting certain regional priorities. 

Farm Woodland Payments ­- To compensate for income forgone as a consequence of planting woodland.  Farmers are eligible for up to £300/ha/yr and non-farmers €150/ha/yr for 15 years (for broadleaved woodland).  The rate is determined by the current land use and location.

Woodland Creation Grant and Additional Contributions will be paid in two instalments – 80% when the planting is completed, and the remaining 20% 5 years later.

 

Applications:

The Forestry Commission welcomes applications between 1st May and 30th September for planting during the Autumn/Winter of that year and if appropriate subsequent years. To apply for this grant you need to be registered with the Rural Payments Agency. Application forms can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/ewgs-wcg

 

Single Farm Payment:

Recent changes in EU rules mean that landowners will remain eligible for SPS on land where woodland is planted from 2009. 

 

Scotland

The Woodland Trust provides free help and advice to all those interested in planting new native woodlands in Scotland.

Can you fit some native woodland on your land, for example for firewood or shelter, or just for the joy of having more trees? 

Our team of experienced woodland creation advisors will be pleased to offer support on all aspects of woodland creation, including woodland design, species choice, costs, access to grants, and future management.

 

MOREwoods

A simple scheme from the Woodland Trust to help you create beautiful new native woodland.

With our expert help and advice in just 12 years you could be walking through your own flourishing young forest of native trees; oak, ash, hazel or rowan.

Specialist woodland creation advisors are in place and can offer site visits and advice based on four decades of planting expertise.

Previous MOREwoods schemes have created some 210 hectares of new native woodland across 160 sites, with planting motivated by a range of uses from shade for livestock to a legacy for future generations, to shelter for crops and game cover.

Native woods are a haven for wildlife and beneficial for our health and well being.  They can also provide excellent game cover, produce timber and woodfuel, help with pollution control, reduce soil erosion and can make an important contribution to addressing the challenges of climate change.

MOREwoods is available to landowners throughout the UK with a minimum of one hectare (2.5 acres) but that could comprise a number of smaller areas.

Your application will be favoured if you can
contribute towards the scheme or do some of the work
yourself or if you are happy for your scheme to go forward for Forestry Commission funding.

• contact an adviser to discuss in more detail 

  

 

 

 

Grants 

As part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme, funding is available throughout the country for the creation of native woodland through Rural Development Contracts.

This funding covers a range of activities that deliver targeted environmental, social and economic benefits.
 

Eligibility:

Woodland Creation is listed as option 45, and to be eligible for this you must want to plant a minimum of 0.25 ha (and it must be at least 15m wide). Your scheme must also deliver one of the Forestry Commission's objectives which include:

1. Contributing to native woodland expansion
2. Developing habitat networks to improve biodiversity
3. Diversifying farmed landscape
    

contact an adviser to discuss in more detail 

.   
 

 

 

Step by step guide to SRDP

 

As part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme, funding is available throughout the country for the creation of native woodland through Rural Development Contracts. This funding covers a range of activities that deliver targeted environmental, social and economic benefits. A complete list of options can be found online at the Scottish Government website under Rural Priorities:

scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/SRDP/RuralPriorities/Options

 

Grant Rates:

Currently the grant consists of a single payment initial planting, and annual maintenance payment for 5 years (on agricultural or abandoned land), and an additional payment for deer or stock fencing.

Woodland type	Density (trees / ha)	Planting grant /ha	Maintenance grant (/ha/yr)
Native woodland	1600	£2241.60 (Less Favoured Area) £1961.40 (Non Less Favoured Area)	£218/ha/yr

  

Community Woodland Contribution:
This is set at £1500/ha and is available if 50% of the planting is located with 1km of the homes of more than 2000 people. To obtain this you must also offer opportunities for public access and recreation.

Farmland Premium:
To compensate for the loss of agricultural income farmers are eligible for £60 - £300/ha/yr for 15 years.  The rate depends on the type of land and the minimum area is one hectacre.

Application:

To apply for this grant you must be IACS (integrated administration control system) registered. The first stage of the application process involves filling in a statement of intent. The next stage of the process is then doing a proposal.

 

The Trust has produced an easy to follow
step by step guide to the SRDP process 

 

 

Wales

Most native woods in Wales are small and they cover only 4% of the land surface but they underpin the attractiveness and vitality of the landscape, are havens for wildlife, and many offer unrivalled places to walk.

We want to see Wales’ native woodlands significantly increased for the benefit of our future generations and for our precious wildlife.

We are working closely with the Forestry Commission and other agencies to achieve this.

Can you fit some native woodland on your land, for example for firewood or shelter, or just for the joy of having more trees? 

Our team of experienced woodland creation advisors will be pleased to offer support on all aspects of woodland creation, including woodland design, species choice, costs, access to grants, and future management.

Generous grants now available from the Assembly!

If you are looking to plant more than quarter of a hectare of land in Wales, then there are now very attractive grants available under the new Glastir Woodland Creation Grants scheme, of up to £9,000 per hectare! You don't have to be a farmer, or in the Glastir scheme.

Glastir Woodland Creation

New Glastir Woodland Creation Grant scheme offers grants of up to £9,000 per hectare for new tree planting in Wales!

In October 2010 the Welsh Government launched a new grant scheme to encourage and support woodland creation in Wales, Glastir Woodland Creation.

The grants are available now and is open to all landowners, whether farmers or not, and whether or not they are within the Glastir agri-environmental scheme.

Launched by the Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones, the scheme is aimed at delivering the Welsh Assembly’s target of creating 100,000 ha of new native and mixed woodland over the next 20 years, to help soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and also to make the Welsh landscape more resilient to the effects of climate change. An ambitious target like this requires realistic incentives and these have now been made available.

The scheme includes a planting grant over the first three years, an income foregone payment over 15 years and also a fencing payment of £3.15 per metre for new fencing. The rates vary depending on the type of trees planted and are higher for registered farmers. Full details are available on the Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) website. The Woodland Trust can help you apply for this grant. Just ring us on 0845 293 5689.

What does this mean for landowners?
If you are a landowner in Wales and you would like to plant trees, the Welsh Assembly Government will effectively meet the costs of doing so.

How does the scheme work?
Applications must be made via a project officer approved by the Forestry Commission Wales (FCW). These project officer are funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the service is free to landowners. To start the process, either ring Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust) on 0845 293 5689 or contact the FCW direct via its website.

Does it matter where the land is?
There are some areas where these grants are not available, for example peatland where tree planting could release more carbon from the soil than the trees would absorb in growing. There is a presumption against planting in these areas. There are other areas, for example some land in National Parks, where some consultation is necessary prior to planting. Across wide areas of Wales, however, Glastir Woodland Creation Grants can be secured very easily and quickly.

A map of these areas is available on the FCW website and they areas are marked red, amber and green respectively. Please note, however, that even is the land you wish to plant is marked in red, some planting may still be possible as your project officer can apply to have land removed from the red area if the restriction against tree planting is seen to be unnecessary.

Single Farm Payment
Recent changes in EU rules mean that landowners will remain eligible for SPS on land that has been taken out of production through agri-environmental schemes providing that you claimed SPS in 2008.

What if I don’t want to claim a government grant?
There are many landowners who, for whatever reason, do not wish to claim a government grant for tree planting. Coed Cadw can provide help through its MOREwoods scheme - see below. This provides free help and support for landowners wishing to plant trees, potentially including a visit from our experienced advisors to check land suitability, help with design of the wood and species to be planted plus free trees and guards. We’ll even help with the paperwork.

• contact an adviser to discuss in more detail 
   

 

MOREwoods

A simple scheme from the Woodland Trust to help you create beautiful new native woodland.

With our expert help and advice in just 12 years you could be walking through your own flourishing young forest of native trees; oak, ash, hazel or rowan.

Specialist woodland creation advisors are in place and can offer site visits and advice based on four decades of planting expertise.

Previous MOREwoods schemes have created some 210 hectares of new native woodland across 160 sites, with planting motivated by a range of uses from shade for livestock to a legacy for future generations, to shelter for crops and game cover.

Native woods are a haven for wildlife and beneficial for our health and well being.  They can also provide excellent game cover, produce timber and woodfuel, help with pollution control, reduce soil erosion and can make an important contribution to addressing the challenges of climate change.

MOREwoods is available to landowners throughout the UK with a minimum of one hectare (2.5 acres) but that could comprise a number of smaller areas.

Your application will be favoured if you can
contribute towards the scheme or do some of the work
yourself or if you are happy for your scheme to go forward for Forestry Commission funding.

• contact an adviser to discuss in more detail 

  

 

Woodland Trust Wales page

Woodland Trust campaigning in Wales

Find a wood in Wales

Plant!

Volunteering opportunities in Wales

Dedicate a tree in Wales

Bilingual learning resources

Wales office contact details

 

Cymraeg

YCHWANEGoed yng Nghymru

Mae’r rhan fwyaf o goedlannau brodorol yng Nghymru yn fach. Maen nhw’n gorchuddio dim ond 4% o’r wlad.

Ond maen nhw’n cyfrannu’n fawr at harddwch a bywiogrwydd y tirwedd, gan ddarparu cynefinoedd i fyd natur a llefydd heb eu hail i gerdded.

Rydym ni eisiau gweld coetiroedd brodorol Cymru yn cynnig mwy o fanteision i’r cenedlaethau a ddêl, ac i’n bywyd gwyllt gwerthfawr.

Rydym yn gweithio’n agos gyda’r Comisiwn Coedwigaeth a chyrff eraill i gyflawni hyn.

A allwch chi gael hyd i le i goetir brodorol ar eich tir chi, i ddarparu coed tân er enghraifft, neu gysgod i dda byw, neu ddim ond er mwyn gallu mwynhau gweld mwy o goed?

• A fyddech cystal â llenwi’r ffurflen ar-lein hon

• danfon e-bost at
  woodlandcreation@woodlandtrust.org.uk

• neu ffonio
  0845 293 5689

Grantiau hael ar gael bellach o Lywodraeth y Cynulliad!

Os ydych chi'n bwriadu plannu mwy na chwarter hectar o dir yng Nghymru, mae yna grantiau o hyd at £9,000 yr hectar ar gael bellach o Lywodraeth y Cynulliad, sef Grantiau Creu Coetir Glastir.

Does dim rhaid i chi fod yn ffermwr, na bod yng nghynllun Glastir

Grantiau ar gael yng Nghymru!

Cynllun Creu Coetir Glastir yn cynnig grantiau o hyd at £9,000 yr hectar am blannu coed yng Nghymru!
Ym mis hydref 2010 fe lansiodd Llywodraeth y Cynulliad gynllun grantiau newydd i annog a chefnogi creu coetir yng Nghymru, sef Cynllun Creu Coetir Glastir. Mae’r grantiau ar gael yn awr ac maen nhw’n agored i bob tirfeddiannwr, boed yn ffermwr neu beidio, a dim ots os ydyn nhw o fewn Glastir neu beidio.

Lansiwyd y cynllun gan Elin Jones, y Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig, a’r bwriad yw cyflawni targed y Cynulliad i greu 100,000 ha o goetir newydd brodorol a chymysg dros yr ugain mlynedd nesaf, i amsugno carbon deuocsid o’r awyr a hefyd wneud helpu tirwedd Cymru i wrthsefyll newid yr hinsawdd.

Mae’r cynllun yn cynnwys grant plannu dros y tair blynedd gyntaf, taliad am incwm a gollir dros gyfnod o bymtheng mlynedd a hefyd taliad o £3.15 y metr am ffensys newydd. Mae’r taliadau’n amrywio yn ôl pa fath o goetir sy’n cael ei greu ac maen nhw’n uwch ar gyfer ffermwyr. Mae manylion llawn ar gael ar wefan Comisiwn Coegwigaeth Cymru.  Fe all Coed Cadw eich helpu chi am gynnig am y grant yma. Ffoniwch ni ar 0845 293 5689.

Beth y mae hyn yn ei olygu i dirfeddianwyr?
Os ydych chi’n dirfeddianwyr yng Nghymru a’ch bod chi eisiau plannu coed, fe wnaiff Llywodraeth y Cynulliad dalu’r gost, mwy neu lai.

Sut mae’r cynllun yn gweithio?
I wneud cais am y grantiau hyn mae rhaid gweithio gyda swyddog prosiect a gymeradwywyd gan Gomisiwn Coedwigaeth Cymru. Mae’r swyddogion hyn yn cael eu hariannu gan Lywodraeth y Cynulliad ac mae’r gwasanaeth yn rhad ac am ddim i dirfeddianwyr. I ddechrau’r broses ffoniwch Goed Cadw ar 08452 935 738 neu cysylltwch â’r Comisiwn Coedwigaeth trwy’r wefan.

Ydi o’n bwysig lle mae’ch tir chi?
Mae yna rai ardaloedd lle nad ydi’r grantiau hyn ar gael, er enghraifft ar gorsydd mawn lle gallai plannu coed ryddhau mwy o garbon nag y buasai’r coed yn ei amsugno wrth dyfu. Mae yna ragdybiaeth yn erbyn plannu coed yn yr ardaloedd hyn. Mae yna rai ardaloedd eraill, er enghraifft rhai darnau o Barciau Cenedlaethol, lle mae angen ymgynghori cyn plannu. Ond, ar draws ardaloedd helaeth o Gymru, gellir hawlio grantiau creu coetir Glastir yn hawdd ac yn gyflym.

Mae map o’r ardaloedd hyn i gyd ar gael ar wefan Comisiwn Coedwigaeth Cymru ac maen nhw wedi’u marcio mewn coch, oren a gwyrdd yn eu tro. Ond cofiwch y gallech chi, hwyrach, blannu coed ar eich tir hyd yn oed os ydi’n goch ar y map, achos fe gaiff eich swyddog prosiect chi ofyn i’r Comisiwn symud yr ardal goch os gellir dangos nad yw’r cyfyngiad yn angenrheidiol.

Taliad Fferm Sengl
Oherwydd newiadau mewn rheolau Ewropeaidd, fe fydd tirfeddiannwyr yn dal i dderbyn Taliad Fferm Sengl ar dir nad yw’n gynhyrchiol dim mwy oherwydd cynlluniau amaeth-amgylcheddol, os derbyniosoch Daliad Fferm Sengl yn 2008.

 

Beth yw’r opsiynau os nad ydw i eisiau hawlio grant gan y Llywodraeth?
Mae yna lawer o dirfeddianwyr sydd ddim eisiau hawlio grantiau gan y Llywodraeth, a hynny am sawl rheswm. Fe all Coed Cadw helpu, a hynny trwy gynllun YCHWANEGoed. Mae hyn yn cynnig help a chefnogaeth i dirfeddianwyr sydd eisiau plannu coed. Fe all hyn gynnwys ymweliad gan swyddog creu coetir profiadol i sicrhau fod y tir yn addas a help wrth ddylunio’r goedlan a phenderfynu pa rywogaethau i’w plannu, yn ogystal â choed a llewys i’w hamddiffyn. Fe allwn ni helpu gyda’r gwaith papur, hyd yn oed. Os ydych chi’n dirfeddiannwr sydd eisiau plannu coed, a wnewch chi’n ffonio ni ar 0845 293 5689 neu ddanfon e-bost aton ni: morewoods@woodlandtrust.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Tudalen Cymru'r wefan hon

Ymgyrchoedd Coed Cadw yng Nghymru

Cael hyd i goedlan yng Nghymru

Plant!

Cyflwyno coed yng Nghymru

Cyfleoedd gwirfoddoli yng Nghymru

Adnoddau addysg Cymraeg

Cysylltu â Swyddfa Cymru

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland remains one of the least wooded regions in Europe, with a mere 6.4 per cent woodland cover, compared to a European average of 44 per cent.

The Woodland Trust has an aspiration to double native woodland cover, but recognises that it can’t do it alone.  We’re offering comprehensive advice and, in some cases, funding to help landowners experience the beauty and many benefits of woodland. 

 

MOREwoods

This is a new scheme from the Woodland Trust to help you create beautiful new native woodland.

Native trees and woodland bring numerous benefits.  They enhance the landscape, provide homes for our precious wildlife, shelter and shade for crops and livestock, improve air quality, and provide timber and wood fuel.  And, with our expert help and advice, in as little as 12 years you could be walking through your own flourishing forest of native trees, including oak, ash, hazel and rowan.

Launched in Northern Ireland in January 2011, MOREwoods saw the creation of 35 hectares (86 acres) of woodland in just one planting season; with wildlife and wood fuel cited as the most popular reasons for planting.

The MOREwoods scheme is aimed at landowners in Northern Ireland who wish to plant a minimum of 1 hectare (2.47 acres) and who are ineligible for government funding.  The Trust can provide advice, guidance, trees and recommend contractors who will take care of the tree planting.   Alternatively, individuals can opt to carry out work, such as ground preparation and planting, themselves.  With the former option, landowners must contribute at least 50 per cent of the cost of the scheme.

contact an adviser to discuss in more detail 

   

 

Woodland Grant Scheme

Some landowners will be eligible for government funding. 
Forest Service’s Woodland Grant Scheme provides financial assistance for the creation of new native woodland. 

Farmers may also be eligible for the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme.  This provides income through annual payments to compensate for agricultural income foregone by creating woodland.

Eligibility for the Woodland Grant Scheme

The minimum application is for planting 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres).  The land must be no narrower than 20 m at any point. To apply for this grant you need to have a registered Farm Business Identification Number (FBID). 

Free advice, tailored for you

Our woodland creation advisor is available to help, free of charge.  We'll offer comprehensive tree planting advice, and will provide guidance on the most appropriate source of funding or grant-aid.
 

Q. What is MOREwoods?

A. As an organisation we want to see more woodlands created – and to help people create woods who may have land but who are not sure of the process or who lack the resources to plant trees. MOREwoods is the project name we are using for this support. One of the Trust’s prime objectives is to increase native woodland cover, and we are looking for partners to help us achieve this by planting on their own land. We are concerned about the health of the UK’s environment and we believe that a healthy environment is good for people: we need bees to pollinate crops, for instance, and we need clean water for drinking. One very positive action anyone can take to help the environment is to plant native trees.

Q. Why is the Trust doing this?

A. The Trust strongly believes it is necessary to involve and inspire others to plant native woodland. We have bought land and planted our own woods for years but we cannot do all the woodland creation the country needs on our own. We want more people to take pleasure in the countryside and in owning and managing woods – whether for wood-fuel, landscape or purely for wildlife. And  if we can help we will!

Q. What’s it going to cost me?

A. MOREwoods provides help and support about woodland creation, and in some cases funding. You will need to contribute towards your scheme to allow our funding to go as far as possible.

Q. Why should I consider it?

A. MOREwoods is just one of many potential mechanisms  for supporting woodland. You should be aware that there are other schemes including government support from the Forestry Commission. Our scheme is flexible and we hope to give you good advice – it does not preclude other options. If you want to create woodland, talk to us.

Q. How will it benefit me?

A. There are a range of ways you could boost wildlife and environment as a land owner – one is planting trees. Mankind has been taking from nature for many years but increasingly seems to have forgotten that our relationship with nature is not a one-way street. We need to protect our environment for our own survival as a species, and we think that as a whole society we need to care for our surroundings. The benefit to you as an individual could be small in your lifetime, but to successive generations the benefits will be significant.

Q. Where is the Trust funding coming from?

A. A range of sources from individual donations and contributions from corporate and public sector.

Q. Can anyone apply?

A. Yes – providing you have one hectare of land and can set it aside for planting.

Q. Does it matter where I want to plant?

A. Yes – we will not plant sites already rich in ecological value, such as wildflower rich meadows or on sites of archaeological interest. Planting has to be where it will prosper and where it does not adversely affect people and an existing thriving environment.

Q. How long before you get back to me?

A. Between May 2010 and January 2011 we hope to hold monthly MOREwoods approvals rounds. We aim to contact site owners within a week of the meeting where their site was considered.

Q. When can I expect to plant trees?

A.  If successful with an application for support, expect planting (or to plant) from mid November 2010 to March 2011.

Q. Can I choose tree species?

A. Within reason – yes, so long as they are native species. But we hope to provide advice on species as part of the process within the application. A good rule of thumb is to look at what is already growing well locally.

Q. Can I plant for any purpose?

A. Yes, within reason. If you are applying for support but have a planning or legal requirement already to plant trees then we will not support you. We are very happy with planting for purposes including game cover, wood fuel, wildlife habitat and screening.

Q. What’s the tree density likely to be?

A. If we are supporting the planting directly we will be planting at a minimum density of 1000 trees per ha (400 per acre). Where government grant funding is used the density will be higher.

Q. How quickly will that planting become a wood?

A. We plant many 1000s of trees a year. In the lowlands within five years of planting, a tree such as birch, ash, alder  or cherry will generally reach about 6 feet or more in height. Growth rates do vary significantly across the UK and at different altitudes but it will not take long for your woodland to start to look like a wood. 

Q. Do I have to offer public access?

A. No, but it would increase your chances of funding from the Trust if you can. In Scotland, there is a right of responsible public access to nearly all land, but it will strengthen your application if you actively welcome public access.

Q. Can I make a shared application with a neighbour?

A. Yes, as long as both parties are in agreement.

Q. Is the offer open to groups?

A. Yes, providing that you have a legal interest in the land and can sign an agreement

Q. Do I have to own my land?

A. Yes, or have a legal and binding agreement from a landlord and sufficient time on a lease to create woodland.

Q. Is there a minimum area?

A. Ideally 1 hectare (2.5 acres).

Q. Does planting have to be in a single block?

A. No. Ideally yes, but we will consider smaller blocks adding up to the minimum area. In England & Wales please note you are responsible for fencing.

Q. Is there a maximum area?

A. That depends. In England we think our funding is best placed against 1 ha/2.5 acre schemes. Larger schemes can get more financial assistance via the Forestry Commission's English Woodland Grant Scheme, but we can help by explaining the process and advising you on how to make an application. In Scotland there is no maximum area, although for larger schemes (i.e many 10s or 100s of hectares) we may have to be more flexible in the ways that we can help you.

Q. How do I protect the planting to ensure trees survive?

A. We will be able to advise you on the use of appropriate tree guards to protect your trees from deer, rabbits and other creatures that might like to nibble your newly planted trees.  We will discuss best methods with you to protect individual trees, but in England & Wales you will be responsible for all fencing costs. If you are successful with your MOREwoods application then individual  tree protection will be included as part of the deal.

Q. How much care and attention do trees need?

A.  Some but not lots. Weeding, unless mulch mats are applied, is essential in years 1 and 2. Grass cutting to keep the site tidy is helpful but the vegetation around the tree needs to be killed not cut! Maintenance of tree shelters (making sure they are upright and well staked) is helpful. In very dry planting years we recommend considering watering.

Q. How long will I have to commit to keep them for?

A.  There is little point planting a tree unless you intend it to grow. Once the wood is planted we hope it will always be a wood, but of course cutting a single tree down or even selective cropping for firewood, does not destroy the wood.

Q. What grants are available to me and are there any special supplementary grants available?

A. We can discuss this with you. The main source of grants for woodland creation come from the Forestry Commission.

Q. Is any land unsuitable?

A. Most land is suitable – but the costs of planting vary enormously.

Q. Does the wood have to be solid planting?

A. Ideally, yes, but we can be flexible on design to allow areas of, for instance, wildflowers or open areas or wider spacing if this is appropriate.

Q. I have already got some woodland. Does that matter?

A. No – that’s great.  Adding to existing woodland should help the new wood prosper.