Woodland Creation Planning Scheme: overview

The Woodland Creation Planning Scheme provides financial support to use a registered woodland planner to develop a woodland creation plan for an area of at least 0.25 hectares. If less than 2 hectares in size, it may be possible to apply to the Small Grant - Woodland Creation scheme instead.

The plan is verified by Natural Resources Wales to make sure it meets the UK Forestry Standard. The plan can then be used to apply to the Woodland Creation Grant for funding to plant the trees.

Farmers, other landowners and land managers applying for funding to use a registered woodland planner.

The scheme provides grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 for:

• professional advice from a Registered Woodland Planner
• development of a woodland creation plan which is UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) compliant, verified by NRW and valid for 5 years

The support covers 80% of the costs of undertaking specialist habitat or species survey such as:

• bats
• breeding birds
• vegetation
• peat 

The applicant or a registered woodland planner can apply on Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online by submitting an expression of interest.  

The scheme is open throughout the year.

NRW offer a pre-application service to talk through the woodland creation proposal ahead of making an EOI to ensure the site is right for tree planting at Woodland Plan Verification Team.

More Information on:

• how to apply
• technical guidance
• scheme rules
• terms and conditions
• how to complete guides

are available at Woodland Creation Planning Scheme.

A list of Registered woodland planners is available on the Welsh Government website. You can use these planners to prepare your woodland creation plan.

NRW has a pre-application service in order to talk through the woodland creation proposal. It can be accessed at Woodland Plan Verification Team.

Technical advice is also available from Farming Connect and from the NRW woodland Creation Hub.