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There are a number of grants available for people wanting to conserve, maintain and develop natural habitats.

Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS)
Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS)
Other Grant Aid

Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS)

The most common form of grant aid available for woodlands is run by the Forestry Commission. The Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) is a grant available for the creation of new, or the management of existing woodlands.

A formal plan and application must be provided and approved by the Forestry Commission, in line with their current management guidelines. Certain criteria must be met (e.g. size of woodland, type of management being carried out, spacings of newly planted trees, benefits to the environment or the public, etc.) prior to the commencement of work and applications can take a number of weeks before approval is given.

Although a lot of effort may be required during the application process (i.e. full management plans may be required to be in place, maps should be meticulously marked and the application forms can look complex), this is far outweighed by the benefits. Initial grant aid is provided and further payments may then be provided for the annual maintenance of the site. For further details about the scheme, please visit the Forestry Commission web site.

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Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS)

This grant is provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Farming and Fisheries (MAFF) and is run in conjunction with the Forestry Commissions Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS). The main aim of this grant is to provide financial support to farmers wanting to convert agricultural land into woodland. As the scheme is run alongside the WGS, both must be applied for to obtain approval. The FWPS application is considered under the same criteria as WGS applications.

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Other Grant Aid Available

There are often a number of other environmental grants available at local and national levels, depending upon the type of project being carried out. Contact your Local Authority for details of schemes in your area.