A summary of the changes to the Woodland Creation Grant options as of January 2025.
We have reduced the minimum block size from 0.1ha (equivalent to 100m x 10m) to 0.01ha (equivalent to 10m x 10m). This requires:
- 11 trees to be planted under options with a species density of 1,100 stems per ha,
- 16 trees under options with a species density of 1,600 stems per ha,
- 25 trees under options with a species density of 2,500 stems per ha.
All other grant requirements remain the same including minimum agreement area.
Reducing the minimum block size facilitates more innovative woodland creation applications. One example of this is alley planting (strips of tree planting across a field to delineate grazing units).
The minimum area of new planting remains at 0.25ha for the Woodland Creation Grant and 0.1ha for the Small Grants – Woodland Creation scheme.
We have created a ‘Fruit and Nut’ category to:
- facilitate farm diversification
- support sustainable food production alongside woodland creation.
The category is limited to 30% fruit cultivars, to maintain woodland cover should the fruit trees be felled after the contract has expired.
Planting under this option requires 800 tree/Ha which equates to 3.5m spacing between trees if evenly spaced. Planting density can vary to allow wider tree canopies to form, however the minimum distance between trees is 1m and the maximum 10m. The lower density allows for the higher purchase cost of fruit cultivars and nut species. Larger spacing also enables bigger canopies to form making it easier to harvest.
The category contract will last for 12 years, require livestock exclusion and be eligible for the premium payment.
For the Woodland Creation Grant we have introduced two low density options (to replace the previous one).
A lowland option:
- for land below the upper limit of enclosure,
- a specified density of 50 trees per hectare,
- a minimum distance of 15m between trees.
An upland option:
- for land above the upper limit of enclosure
- a specified density of 80 trees per hectare,
- a minimum spacing of 8m between trees.
We have amended the tree protection requirements for fencing each tree under the agroforestry option in the Woodland Creation Grant. It is now
- less prescriptive,
- allows for site specific solutions and innovations,
- payment rates include funding for tree protection,
- the contract length has been extended to 12 years (from 5 years).
It is up to the applicant to choose which protection they use.