UK grant · The National Forest Company, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Forest Creation Grant
£1,500 to £1,000,000 Closes 1 February 2027
Official listing and how to apply
Source: Find a Grant (GOV.UK) · Last checked
Key facts
| Funder | The National Forest Company, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
|---|---|
| Amount per award | £1,500 to £1,000,000 |
| Total funding available | £1,570,000 |
| Opens | 1 April 2026 |
| Closes | 1 February 2027 (83 days left) |
| Who can apply | Businesses, Public sector and councils, Individuals, Charities and non-profits |
| Applicant types listed | Personal / Individual; Public Sector; Non-profit; Private Sector; Local authority |
| Nation or region | Midlands |
| Status | Open |
| Source | Find a Grant (GOV.UK) |
| Last checked | 10 November 2026 |
About this grant
Summary from the official listing on Find a Grant (GOV.UK):
The Forest Creation Grant supports landowners and tenants within the National Forest or close to its boundary to take part in our shared vision of transformation through forests. By planting trees and creating thriving wooded landscapes, applicants help shape a greener, more resilient future for nature, communities and local enterprise.
Whether your aim is to create new woodland, enhance and connect habitats, protect livestock, soils or crops, or develop innovative woodland-based products, this grant offers the support you need to grow forests for the future starting with schemes as small as 0.25 hectares.
Applications are assessed on the contribution they make to the National Forest’s mission: To grow forests for the future: restoring nature, connecting communities and enhancing enterprise.
The Forest Creation Grant is based on a menu of standard‑cost items, each with a fixed rate paid either as a one‑off or annually. These rates are linked to the nationally available tree‑planting and agri‑environment grants. We are required to benchmark our payments against these national schemes so that our funding is fair and consistent with what is available across the country. All rates are reviewed each year to make sure they remain up to date.
Inspirational examples of planting schemes we have funded:
Creating wood pasture by planting clusters of trees and shelterbelts to provide shade, greater capacity for outwintering, high quality cattle grazing, protect soils and expand habitats for birds and insects.
Adding parkland trees and small woodland areas along a cross-country equestrian course to improve the visitor experience and strengthen habitat networks.
Restoring parkland and planting new woodland to support farm diversification, improve permissive access, connect people with farming and nature, enlarge and connect habitats.
Growing productive conifer and broadleaf woodlands to supply sustainable products, power the estate’s heating system and connect habitats.
Planting rows of mixed orchard trees as small‑scale silvopasture in hard‑to‑manage ex-arable field to protect soils, offer shade and make better use of the land.
Creating shelterbelts along watercourses to reduce flood risk, protect water quality, improve soils and support resilient farm management.
Eligibility
Landowners with land inside, or close to, the National Forest boundary. Eligible applicants include individuals, landowning businesses, incorporated organisations, partnerships and community groups capable of entering into a legal agreement. Applicants must be able to demonstrate legal control of the land and meet the obligations of the grant. Larger or more complicated schemes may also require registration on the Rural Land Register to obtain a Single Business Identifier (SBI).
You can find a detailed map of the Forest boundary on our website, just scroll down on this page.
What We Cannot Fund
- Projects that do not benefit the National Forest or its communities.
- Schemes under 0.25 hectares.
- Any works required under planning conditions, including Section 106 obligations.
- Planting required under a Felling Licence or Restocking Notice.
- Works and activities already funded through other National Forest schemes or other grants.
- VAT the applicant can recover from HMRC.
- Buildings, vehicles and other similar capital items.
- Any work completed before a grant offer is made.
- Projects with a more suitable alternative funding source.
- Woodland created solely for short‑rotation coppice (SRC) is not eligible for funding. However, SRC components are permitted within wider woodland, where long‑term tree cover is maintained, or within agroforestry systems.
- Christmas tree production.
- Activities that may damage habitats, archaeology, geology or heritage features.
- Projects that degrade or restrict access to the countryside.
Details are copied from the official source and can change. Check the official listing before you apply. Grant Writing Company is not affiliated with this funder.
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