The government has a legally binding ambitious target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover from 14.5% to 16.5% of total land area in England by 2050 – this equates to about 240,000 hectares.
Farmers and landowners will play a crucial role in helping to deliver these ambitions.
There is a strong emphasis on the role of agroforestry in delivering this target through agri-environment incentives.
Manging existing trees on farm and planting trees can help to deliver benefits to the environment which work alongside food production and create a more resilient farming sector.
Policy update
We launched the NFU tree strategy in July 2021. It sets out the opportunities and barriers of managing and integrating trees within the farmed environment and our key asks of government to ensure the right policies and incentives are in place.
The NFU reviewed the progress that the government has made against the NFU’s tree strategy asks. Overall, good progress has been made on some of the NFU’s key tree policy asks, however, there are key outstanding asks, such as the gap in support for bringing existing woodlands back into management as well as the permanency element of trees which remains a barrier to tree planting.
It is, however, positive and an NFU success that the recently published Land Use Framework commitment to providing flexibility for farmers planting trees in fields to create agroforestry systems, allowing them to trial resilient farming approaches without being locked into permanent change through felling licencing.
The NFU will continue to work with the government on this commitment, addressing other wider barriers and in its development of the England Trees Action Plan in 2026.
Government funding options
England woodland creation offer
The EWCO (England Woodland Creation Offer) is the government’s main woodland creation fund which is operated by the Forestry Commission.
It provides funding for woodland creation and maintenance on applications as small as one hectare in total; each individual area must be at least 0.1 hectares.
Support to plan the EWCO woodland is available through the WCPG (woodland creation planning grant).
More detail on the WCPG and EWCO is available on GOV.UK and can be discussed with your local Forestry Commission woodland creation team/officer. The Forestry Commission has also produced a series of YouTube videos to provide guidance on applying for the EWCO.
Applicants to the EWCO in low sensitivity areas could benefit from the Forestry Commission fast track approach to applications. This approach aims to make regulatory decisions and grant offers in 12 weeks.
This may provide a quicker route for those considering planting woodland this coming winter. Information on fast-track woodland creation applications is available on GOV.UK.
Deadline: EWCO is open year-round and you can apply at any time. To secure an agreement offer in time for the next planting season (winter 26/27), you need to submit your EWCO application by 31 May 2026. Applications must be complete and meet eligibility requirements. The Forestry Commission can’t guarantee an agreement offer in time for the next planting season if information is still missing on 31 May 2026. This doesn’t apply to EWCO woodland creation fast track process which turns eligible proposals around in under 12 weeks. If you have any queries about new or existing EWCO applications, please contact the Forestry Commission via email on [email protected] or telephone on 0300 067 4177 or get pre-application advice from your local Forestry Commission adviser.
There are several other Forestry Commission woodland grants and incentives. An overview of these is available at: GOV.UK | Woodland grants and incentives overview table.
Farming in Protected Landscapes
The FiPL (Farming in Protected Landscapes) programme provides funding to support farmers and landowners in Protected Landscapes (National Parks, National Landscapes [AONBs] and Norfolk Broads).
The programme began in July 2021 and will run until March 2029. Although this is a Defra programme, the delivery and allocation of the funding to participants is operated by the National Park and National Landscape teams.
The programme has been designed differently to agri-environment schemes; this enables projects to be specific to the area and the landowners within it. In some places this may involve trees.
Woodland Creation Partnerships
Defra works with forests and other organisations around the country to form Woodland Creation Partnerships and target specific areas of local tree planting. Find out more about Woodland Creation Partnerships at GOV.UK.
Alternative funding options
Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. It operates several funds and grants for tree planting and woodland creation including:
- MOREwoods – Funding of up to 75% of costs is available, for where more than 500 trees are planted as woodland on at least half a hectare.
- Trees for you Farm – Plant 500+ trees to improve productivity and the environment on your farm. Funding of up to 100% of costs is available for agroforestry schemes benefiting the business of productive farms.
- MOREhedges – Plant 100+ metres of new hedging allowing a large tree to grow every 6 metres. Funding of up to 75% of costs is available.
Find out more about the Woodland Trust's funding.
At a regional level, the NFU sometimes runs tree giveaway initiatives with the Woodland Trust. Updates on are these are posted in regional communications.
Tree planting advice
A local Forestry Commission woodland creation team or officer will be able to provide guidance and more information about tree planting funding and opportunities in your area. Their details can be found on GOV.UK.
Forestry Commission Woodland Ambassadors act as local advocates for woodland creation and management, sharing their knowledge with peers. To find a local ambassador visit: GOV.UK | Woodland Ambassadors.
Further tree planting and woodland creation resources are available on: GOV.UK | Tree planting and woodland creation resources.
It’s important to understand exactly what you're signing up to if you are planting trees – in most cases this is long-term permanent land use change.
If you’re unsure about any contracts or legal information when entering tree planting schemes or agreements, it is important to consider taking professional advice.
The NFU offer a legal service through our internal and external legal professionals working together for the benefit of our members. Our in-house legally qualified advisers can assist you through our NFU Legal Assistance Scheme and NFU Contract Checking Service.
The right tree needs to be planted in the right place and in the right way for it to establish and flourish. Those planting trees should familiarise themselves with practical tree planting advice and guidance.
The Tree Council planting guide sets out the main considerations when planting trees and The Woodland Trust provides advice on three ways to plant a tree.
Member stories
Find out how other members have accessed funding:
