Woodland Creation Grants


With our accredited background in planting native woodland we are uniquely placed to bring hands on experience into the role of advisory firm for woodland creation grants. Whether this be Forestry Grant Scheme applications or Borders Tree Planting Grants, we have had great success in being able to see our clients through the planning phases to receiving all necessary consents to proceed with their project.


Some of the grant schemes we offer support for are listed below:


Forestry Grant Scheme (Scottish Forestry)

  • The most common grant option for multiple types of woodland creation schemes in Scotland. These include: native broadleaf, conifer, productive broadleaf, native upland birch and agroforestry. 
  • Most suited to areas of planting larger than 10 ha.
  • Funds roughly 55% to 75% of project costs.
  • Minimum width of 15m per area, making narrow riparian strips potentially unsuitable for this option.
  • The grant pays a set rate per hectare, plus a set rate for capital items including fencing, tree shelters and vole guards.


MOREwoods (The Woodland Trust)

  • Minimum of 0.5 ha of planting in at least 0.1 ha blocks. 
  • No minimum width, so is suitable for narrow sections of riparian woodland (3-15m wide). 
  • Can be combined with the Woodland Trust’s MOREhedges scheme to create biodiverse hedges which can provide wildlife corridors and shelter for livestock.
  • Subsidises 75% of the cost of trees and tree shelters and covers the cost of a woodland advisor assessing the site and creating a woodland report.


Nature Restoration Fund (NatureScot)

  • A competitive grant funding scheme which funds a range of nature restoration interventions which fall outwith the standard grant funding options, such as pond and wetland creation, leaky dams and wildflower meadow creation. 
  • May be suitable for woodland creation that doesn’t meet the prescriptives of schemes such as FGS.


Borders Tree Grant Scheme + Dumfries & Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme

  • Both schemes are open to organisations and individuals looking to enhance their local area by planting plots smaller than 0.25ha.
  • Maximum grant allowance of £1000, which includes up to 100% of material costs (trees, stakes, guards, fencing, etc.) for applications from individuals, landowners, and farmers.
  • For charities and non-profit organisations (e.g. schools, community groups), labour costs can be applied for as part of the grant.


Woodland Carbon Code

  • Provides additional funding on top of other grant options to make projects viable.
  • Projects need to prove additionality, i.e. is carbon funding required to make the project go ahead. 
  • Pays landowners “carbon credits” for each tonne of above ground carbon stored in trees as they grow over the contract period.
  • Payments can be made to landowners within the first years after planting as well as over the duration of the contract.
  • Contracts for native woodland creation tend to last between 50 and 100 years.