MOREhedges application guidance

MOREhedges funding is available for any landowners or farmers to plant hedgerows on their land if:

• they are not already in receipt of funding for planting that hedgerow
• our eligibility criteria are met.

Anyone can apply on behalf of the landowner but they must have the landowner’s permission. 

The MOREhedges initiative is intended to create new ecological links with woodland in the surrounding landscape.  

 Projects must plant 100 – 250 metres of new hedgerow with at least 100m in a single run. They must also:  

• connect directly with existing or newly planted woodland (at least 0.2Ha in England and Wales, or 0.1Ha in Scotland and Northern Ireland)

or  

• connect to woodland within 500m of the new hedge via established hedgerows.

We cannot support the replanting or gapping up of existing hedgerows, planting along an existing line of trees, or planting within or around the edge of woodland.  

The maximum length you can apply for each season is 250m, unless it’s in conjunction with woodland creation via our MOREwoods scheme when this rises to 1000m each season. 

Through MOREhedges, we subsidise up to 75% of the cost of the trees, tree protection, advice and guidance provided.  We want MOREhedges to be affordable for landowners so that they can plant more trees.

For a no obligation quote to see what your new hedgerow might cost, apply today for MOREhedges.

Applications are all taken online through the MOREhedges application form.  

To apply, you will need:

• a map of the area that you would like to plant
• a 6 figure grid reference of the site from OS Maps.

This is used to check the site is eligible for funding and suitable for planting trees.

The application form takes about 15 minutes to complete. You can complete it yourself or ask someone to complete it on your behalf.

If you wish to receive funding through MOREhedges you will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions. These include the need to commit to the care and management of the hedgerow for at least 30 years as part of the UK Government’s ambitions to reach net carbon zero by 2050.

We cannot provide funding or advice through MOREhedges for any trees that are a condition of a planning application. This includes areas currently awaiting decision through a planning application and those already decided. 

All successful MOREhedges applications will be given:

• a no obligation quote for the cost of their project via email
• documentation advising how to plant and care for the hedgerow.

If you wish to proceed, we will order your trees and tree protection from our chosen tree nursery. All our trees are sourced and grown in the UK and Ireland to reduce the risk of pests and diseases.

All hedgerow applications undergo a desk-based assessment of the site before being approved. We aim to respond within 8 weeks of an application and maps being received. This may take longer depending on the volume of applications and whether we require any further information to assess the application.  

Our MOREhedges packs include a variety of shrub species to ensure your hedgerow is biodiverse and wildlife friendly. The mixes vary in each region, but all include a high proportion of hawthorn and a mixture of 5 or 6 other hedgerow species. 

Alongside the MOREhedges tree mix you will also have a single tree species that is planted approx. every 6-8m and allowed to grow to full height. When applying, you will be able to choose your tree species from a list including English oak, sessile oak, silver birch, rowan, hornbeam and wild cherry. 

Learn more about the trees in your hedgerow in our guide to 31 native tree species. 

We reserve the right to amend species mixes depending on stock levels and germination rates.

Some species, such as oak or wild cherry, are toxic to horses. If you are planting near horse fields, we recommend you research and choose your species carefully or contact a member of the woodland creation team to discuss. 

The trees supplied are all one- to two-year-old saplings ranging from 20-90cm in height. This makes them easy to transport, handle and plant. Saplings this size also establish quickly and you are likely to see growth in the first spring after planting. Once established, native broadleaf trees can reach approx. 2 metres high in around eight years. 

Our MOREhedges scheme includes subsidised tree protection. All hedgerow species are supplied with a spiral guard and bamboo cane to protect the young trees from rabbits and other small mammals. 

The trees, to be planted every 6m, are supplied with a 1.2m tube and 1.5m stake to help you to spot them easily and avoid cutting them as part of your hedgerow maintenance. 

All trees are delivered during tree planting season which typically runs from November to March across most of the UK. We will ask you to supply a delivery address as part of your application. This must be: 

• a registered postal address 
• accessible 
• hard-standing for a 6-wheel truck. Please note gravel is unsuitable due to the offloading method. 

 You will be able to select a delivery date when placing your order. It’s important that someone is available at the delivery address between 8.30 - 17.30 on the day of delivery to sign for the trees. We are unable to provide a more specific delivery window. 

Yes. Please notify the woodland creation team at plant@woodlandtrust.org.uk or call direct on 0330 333 5303 at least 2 weeks before the original planned delivery date. We will notify the nursery in good time to prevent the trees being lifted out of the ground too early. 

Yes. If your circumstances have changed and you wish to cancel your order, contact the woodland creation team at plant@woodlandtrust.org.uk or call direct on 0330 333 5303 at least 2 weeks before the planned delivery date. Refunds can take up to 28 days to process. 

The MOREhedges trees will be supplied as bare root trees and will need to be planted within 7 days of delivery. 

After the trees have been delivered, plants should be stored in a dry and frost-free location, in their packaging and ideally within a solid structure such as a shed or storage building. This will ensure the trees are protected from drying out.  

If weather conditions prove too adverse for planting, bare root stock should be heeled in to protect it longer term. Choose a well-drained, shaded and protected spot and dig an angled trench. Cut the bundles open to prevent the central trees from drying out and place the trees individually against one side the trench. Backfill with soil to the root collar and heel in around the trees to reduce air pockets around the roots and limit frost formation. Bare root stock can remain heeled in for the duration of the planting season, if necessary.  

You must plant the trees in their long-term home before they come out of dormancy in March/April, otherwise they will put down roots in the trench. 

Follow our guide to three of the most successful methods to plant trees.

If you’re planting a single hedge, plant your shrubs 30cm apart.

For a thick hedge, plant a double row of shrubs in a zig zag pattern. Space your rows 50cm apart, with 40-45cm between each shrub. These should all be planted with the spiral guards and bamboo canes provided to protect them from mammals. 

Plant a tree species every 6m with a tube and stake to protect it. Allow it to grow to full height to enjoy the benefits that hedgerow trees provide. 

If planting a hedgerow on a boundary between your land and that of a neighbour, the hedge should be set back approximately 1-1.5m from the boundary line. This will allow the hedge to grow without overhanging the neighbour's property. We recommend discussing the hedgerow planting with your neighbour in advance to avoid any potential future disputes over its management. 

Weeding is the most important step in giving your trees the right start. 

Trimming is an essential part of long-term hedgerow maintenance. The newly planted hedge will need an initial trim within the first couple of years to encourage dense bushy growth, especially from the base. 

The species within a hedge and its location will affect the frequency of trimming. Hedges next to roads and footpaths may need trimming annually between November to February (when birds are not nesting), but it is better for wildlife if they can be cut in alternate years. 

Explore more aftercare and maintenance advice to help your hedge thrive.