Forestry Grant Scheme: Woodland Creation
🇬🇧 SCT, United Kingdom · Scottish Forestry via Rural Payments and Services
Per-hectare planting grants plus five years of maintenance payments, e.g. Native Broadleaves £1,840/ha initial planting and £272/ha/yr maintenance (£3,200/ha total; higher in target areas)
The Scottish Government's main grant for creating new woodland, run by Scottish Forestry and paid through Rural Payments and Services. It has nine woodland creation options (Conifer, Broadleaves, Native Broadleaves, Native Scots Pine, Small or Farm Woodland, Native Low Density and others) and two agroforestry options. Payments cover initial planting, five years of annual maintenance and later establishment phases; an extra £1,500/ha applies in the Central Scotland Green Network outer core, capped at 20 ha.
Who qualifies
You must own and occupy the land, hold a secure tenancy (with a landlord's declaration) or a contractual licence covering the full contract term. Planting in existing woodland, Christmas trees, short rotation coppice and energy crops are not eligible. Works must not start before you have an approved contract. Public bodies cannot claim maintenance or establishment payments; local authorities are not classed as public bodies.
How to apply
Register with Rural Payments and Services and apply online through the Forestry Grant Scheme, attaching a Woodland Creation Operational Plan, maps and a Component Areas table. Read the full scheme guidance first and contact your local Scottish Forestry conservancy office with questions. Planting must be completed and the initial planting claim submitted by 30 June of the claim year; works must be maintained for 20 years.
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