Grant or payment · England

England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)

Open all year Trees and woodland

Pays to plant new woodland, plus yearly maintenance and extra one-off payments for public benefits.

From: Forestry Commission
How much: Standard capital items capped at an average of £10,200 per ha; maintenance £400 per ha per year for 15 years. Additional contributions (one-off, per ha): nature recovery up to £3,300; riparian buffers £2,500; recreational access up to £3,700; flood risk management £1,000; close to settlements up to £600; water quality £500. Low sensitivity land payment £1,100 per ha. Infrastructure: 100% recreational, 40% woodland (capped at 10% of capital cost).
Who can apply: Landowners, tenants (with landlord agreement), licensees and public bodies with management control for the full agreement.

What you’ll need

Rural Payments service registration and correct land parcels
At least 1 ha (blocks at least 0.1 ha, 20 m wide; 10 m for riparian/shelterbelts)
Local environmental and historic record checks
EWCO application and declaration forms

How to apply

Register on Rural Payments
Speak to your local Woodland Officer
Do record-centre checks
Submit EWCO forms
Site visit and checks (3-5 months)

Open all year. Submit by 31 May to aim for that winter's planting; applications after October are unlikely to be ready for the coming season. Fast Track for low sensitivity land aims for a decision in 12 weeks. Land cannot already be woodland. Page updated 22 October 2026.

Official page Check if it fits my farm Work out what I’d earn

Similar schemes

Trees Outside Woodland Fund 2026/27 OpenThe Tree Council (with Defra) · Closes 31 October 2026Grants for trees and supporting items outside woodland, such as hedgerow trees, orchards and green spaces.
Trees for your farm (agroforestry) OpenWoodland TrustFunded agroforestry with a farm visit and a tailored design for shelter, soil and water.
MOREwoods Open all yearWoodland TrustSite visit, woodland design, trees and protection, and funding for new woodland of at least half a hectare.
National Forest tree planting and habitat grants Open all yearNational Forest CompanyGrants and advice to plant woodland from 0.25 ha up to landscape scale, and to manage woodland and farmland habitats.
Northern Forest - Trees for Climate Open all yearNorthern Forest partnership (Woodland Trust, Community Forest Trust and four community forests)Up to full funding and free advice for woodland, wood pasture, agroforestry and trees outside woods across the Northern Forest.
PA3 Woodland management plan 2026 Open all yearForestry Commission / RPAOne-off payment towards writing a 10-year woodland management plan that meets the UK Forestry Standard.

Checked against the official pages on 29 October 2026. Sources: 1, 2. Always read the official page before you apply.