How to grow your farm business with trees
Planting the right trees in the right place can yield big benefits to farm businesses, and the potential to generate additional income while supporting existing farm activities. With Defra’s wide range of tree planting grants now available, there’s no better time to put down roots.
Benefits of tree planting:
Sequester carbon and absorb harmful gases.
Protect against soil erosion, particularly important in hilly areas or alongside rivers.
Boost biodiversity – for example, a single oak can support 2,300 species, including beneficial pollinators.
Improve water quality and nutrient use efficiencies. A 10m belt by a river decreases sediment run-off by 90-100%, nutrient losses by 20-80% and pesticide loss by 60-100%, keeping valuable inputs and soil where they’re needed.
Income generation through timber, woodfuel, recreation and leisure, and possibly selling woodland carbon units or other green finance products.
Co-benefits of agroforestry; improved soil quality and farm productivity.
England Woodland Creation Offer
Open to farmers and landowners, the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) is a national grant scheme administered by the Forestry Commission. It encourages investment in the creation and long-term management of woodland on areas as small as one hectare.
EWCO covers standard capital costs up to £10,200/ha and additional payments of up to £8,000/ha for projects that support wider benefits to society, nature recovery and the environment.
Recent funding updates to EWCO include an increase in Maintenance Payments from 10 years to 15 years and an extended Capital Window from two to three years, providing more flexibility and financial security for those looking to plant trees.
Woodland Creation Partners
Alternatively, local Woodland Creation Partners offer highly competitive grants and funding, with tree planting grants covering up to 100% of the costs.
These Partners include; England’s Community Forests, Forest for Cornwall, Great Northumberland Forest, The National Forest and The Northern Forest.
Access support and apply
All woodland creation grants are paired with free expert support and advice to ensure the right trees are planted in the right place for the right reason.
To find out more about the woodland creation grants and support on offer, visit gov.uk/woodland-creation
