We launched the NFU tree strategy in July 2021. It sets out the opportunities and barriers for the farming industry and our vision for woodland creation, hedgerow planting and management, trees in the wider landscape and agroforestry. This ties into our commitment to net zero farming and the NFU’s Net Zero roadmap.
Farmers play a vital role in managing our iconic countryside and landscapes, including our trees and hedgerows. Tree planting offers many benefits to the environment including capturing carbon, enhancing biodiversity and helping to deliver on the UK’s net zero ambition. Find out how you can get involved in opportunities to plant more trees.
National campaigns
Plant the future
The government has launched a campaign to promote woodland creation grants for farmers and landowners. Take a look at funding options, get free specialist advice and find more information on the benefits of creating woodland at Plant the future.
National funding options
Forestry Commission: England Woodland Creation Offer
Woodland creation grants and maintenance will be available to help landowners and land managers create woodland blocks in excess of five hectares. Find out more at Forestry Commission: England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO).
To see how different funding can be used, read tree planting and woodland creation case studies from the Forestry Commission.
HS2 Woodland Fund
Applications are now open and additional funding is available to create native woodland or restore plantations on ancient woodland sites near to the HS2 route. Find out more from the Forestry Commission at HS2 Woodland Fund. The HS2 Woodland Fund will remain open year-round up until March 2025.
Farming in Protected Landscapes
Funding for projects inside National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty boundaries. Projects should meet at least one of the outcomes in four themes: climate, nature, people and place (tree planting could achieve some of these outcomes). Find out more from Defra at get funding for farming in protected landscapes.
Woodland Trust
A number of funds and grants for tree planting and woodland creation.
- 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 at the Woodland Trust's page trees for landowners and farmers.
Forestry England
An offer to lease land to create and manage new woodland to support government plans for woodland creation, nature recovery and progress towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions. It's a unique offer where Forestry England pay a rent and do all the woodland creation on your behalf. Find out more at Forestry England's page on woodland creation.
PIES (Protect Improve Expand Sustain) Project
A new NFU-supported project is offering support to help farmers across England care for their woodland. The PIES (Protect Improve Expand Sustain) project provides a network of independent forestry agents to deliver high-quality, funded advice on bringing existing woodland back into management and/or support for woodland creation projects. Farmers taking part will receive an expert site visit and a customised report, plus ongoing online support, and technical services.
Forest for the Nation
Applications are now open for Defra’s million-pound grant funding competition to identify a new Forest for the Nation.
The competition is open to anyone, with applicants encouraged to work together to develop bids. A local authority sponsor is also required. There will be one overall winner who will get up to £10 million to fund their project.
More information on how to apply can be found at: GOV.UK | Forest for the Nation competition.
Regional schemes
North East
Great Northumberland Forest Plans
Planning to plant one million trees across 500 hectares in Northumberland, creating new forests and delivering more tree planting in the county. Find out more at Great Northumberland Forest Plans, and read about the support and funding options available from Northumberland County Council.
White Rose Action Plan 2021-25 (North and West Yorkshire)
Aiming to plant seven million trees, the equivalent of 4900 football pitches or 3500 hectares across North and West Yorkshire over the next four years. Find out more at White Rose Action Plan 2021-25 and read about the support and funding options available on White Rose Forest's Plant trees on your land page.
Northern Forest
Already established over three million new trees since 2018 and aiming to plant at least 50 million trees across the north of England.
Find out more about financial support for large scale woodland creation in the Northern Forest area, delivered through innovative models and mechanisms, at Tree Planting & Supporting the Northern Forest. If you own or manage land, the Northern Forest can fund up to 100% of the costs of woodland creation through the government’s Nature for Climate Fund.
North West
Mersey Forest (Mersey and North Cheshire)
One of England’s Community Forests, working to create woodlands and help people explore the nature on their doorstep through the growing network of woodlands and green spaces across Cheshire and Merseyside. Find out more at Mersey Forest and read about which support and funding options are available.
New Community Forest for Cumbria
A new coastal community forest of up to 150 hectares will be created along Cumbria’s west coast to help bring people closer to nature. Find out more, including which grants are available, from Defra on their page about the new community forest for Cumbria.
Northern Forest
Already established over three million new trees since 2018 and aiming to plant at least 50 million trees across the north of England.
Find out more about financial support for large scale woodland creation in the Northern Forest area, delivered through innovative models and mechanisms, at Tree Planting & Supporting the Northern Forest. If you own or manage land, the Northern Forest can fund up to 100% of the costs of woodland creation through the government’s Nature for Climate Fund.
Midlands
2022 Commonwealth Games legacy forests
Aiming to plant 2022 acres of forest and help the Birmingham 2022 Games to become the first ever carbon neutral Commonwealth Games. Find out more from Severn Trent Water on their Legacy forests page.
Looking for landowners to donate suitable land to meet their goal of planting 1.3 million trees, improving nature and giving better access to green spaces across the region. Find out more at Severn Trent's Commonwealth Games legacy forests page.
National Forest
Advice and funding support is available in many projects that help to create and sustain the National Forest. Find out more at their grant opportunities page.
Northern Forest
Already established over three million new trees since 2018 and aiming to plant at least 50 million trees across the north of England.
Find out more about financial support for large scale woodland creation in the Northern Forest area, delivered through innovative models and mechanisms, at Tree Planting & Supporting the Northern Forest. If you own or manage land, the Northern Forest can fund up to 100% of the costs of woodland creation through the government’s Nature for Climate Fund.
2022 Commonwealth Games legacy forests
Aiming to plant 2022 acres of forest and help the Birmingham 2022 Games to become the first ever carbon neutral Commonwealth Games. Find out more from Severn Trent Water on their legacy forests page.
Looking for landowners to donate suitable land to meet their goal of planting 1.3 million trees, improving nature and giving better access to green spaces across the region. Find out more at Severn Trent's Commonwealth Games legacy forests page.
National Forest
Advice and funding support is available in many projects that help to create and sustain the National Forest. Find out more at their grant opportunities page.
Trees for Shropshire
Planting schemes across Shropshire to promote biodiversity, including tree and hedge planting, creating clearings and habitats for wildlife rather than block planting. Find out more at trees for Shropshire.
Forest of Mercia
For over 30 years Forest of Mercia has been planting pockets of woodland and hedgerows across Staffordshire.
Funding options including grants are available, as well as community and landowner engagement to develop new approaches to long term woodland management, greater levels of sustainability and find innovative new models of woodland delivery that may help to shape the future of community forestry forever. Find out more at Tree Planting Forest of Mercia.
Tree planting in the Shropshire Hills
Aiming to connect and restore existing woodland, plant small woodlands and hedgerows, and build a joined-up network of habitats that allow wildlife and people to thrive. Tree planting advice is available. Find out more at tree planting in the Shropshire Hills.
NFU, Woodland Trust, and Lloyds Bank tree giveaway
NFU Midlands has teamed up with Lloyds Bank and the Woodland Trust for an exclusive tree give away offer for Nottinghamshire, North Lincolnshire and Worcestershire members.
The trees are funded by Lloyds Bank through their partnership with the Woodland Trust.
Find out more and claim the offer.
East Anglia
Previous regional schemes are now closed. We will share more information of current schemes when available.
South East
Oxfordshire Treescape Project
Farmers and landowners can access free advice and the Oxfordshire Treescape Opportunity Map, a powerful tool that shows the right places to establish treescapes for the right reasons. Find out more at Oxfordshire Treescape Project.
South West
Forest for Cornwall
Helping residents, businesses and communities plant the right trees in the right place for the right purpose, and tackle the climate and ecological emergency.
Find out more about support and funding options at forest for Cornwall and landowners, farmers and businesses.
Gloucestershire County Council – Open call for land – trees need you!
The council is looking for landowners to offer land to plant approximately 360,000 trees over the next three years. Find out more at Gloucestershire County Council – Open call for land – trees need you!
Gloucestershire County Council
Gloucester Country Council have various funding to plant trees in urban areas and to extend existing woodlands. Find out more at Gloucestershire County Council – Trees for Gloucestershire.
Carrant Catchment Restoration Project
An open collaborative partnership project that incorporates both the Carrant and Isbourne rivers. It aims to restore, enhance and improve wildlife habitats, including native trees and hedge planting, orchard restoration and creating wildlife corridors.
They are looking for more local partners such as farmers, landowners, beekeeping, gardening and other environmental community groups to join. Find out more from the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group South West on their page about the Carrant Catchment Restoration Project.
NFU, Woodland Trust, and Lloyds Bank tree giveaway
The South West NFU has teamed up again with the Woodland Trust and Lloyds Bank to deliver a free tree planting scheme.
This is accompanied by useful information about the key things to think about before ordering trees.
