England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)
🇬🇧 ENG, United Kingdom · Forestry Commission (Defra Trees Programme)
Up to £10,200/ha capital for planting, optional £400/ha/yr maintenance for 15 years, plus up to £12,700/ha stackable extra payments
A Forestry Commission grant for creating new woodland in England. It pays standard capital costs for planting, an optional annual maintenance payment, and extra per-hectare contributions for benefits such as nature recovery, riparian buffers, public access, flood risk and water quality. Planting must follow the UK Forestry Standard.
Who qualifies
Land entirely within England that is not already woodland, developed or in dispute. Minimum 1 hectare in total, made up of blocks of at least 0.1 ha, generally at least 20 m wide (10 m for riparian buffers and shelterbelts). Landowners, land managers, tenants with landlord agreement, licensees, business partnerships and public bodies can apply.
How to apply
Register for a Rural Payments service account and register your land parcels, then submit the EWCO application and declaration forms (an agent can apply for you). You can apply at any time of year; to get an agreement in time for the next planting season, submit by 31 May. Processing takes 3 to 5 months; low-sensitivity 'Fast Track' applications target 12 weeks. Contact your local Woodland Officer or EWCO@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
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