£13 million Woodland Creation grant confirmed

A £13 million fund to increase England’s woodland has been confirmed by the Forestry Minister.

The fund, part of the Countryside Stewardship scheme, will help landowners to plant more trees to protect wildlife, boost the timber sector and reduce flood risk. It will help plant more than 3 million trees, creating 1,900 hectares of new woodland and contributing to the government’s ambition to plant 11 million trees, with a further one million in towns and cities.

Farmers, foresters and land managers across the UK will be able to apply for up to £6,800 per hectare to plant, weed and protect more trees when application forms for the next round of the government’s Woodland Creation grant are made available in September.

A range of grants are available to support the creation of new woodland and sustainable woodland management, with Forestry Commission online advice available on the application process.

Thérèse Coffey, Forestry Minister, said: “Our forests and woodlands are vital for providing timber, improving the environment and protecting our wildlife.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to the forestry sector and to biodiversity, which afforestation delivers. I hope to see as many applications as possible so this important industry can continue to thrive.”