Forestry Grant Scheme — Woodland Creation (Scotland)

Description

Scottish Forestry's capital grant for creating new woodland — farming-adjacent but distinct from the land-management-focused Rural Support Plan/AECS. Pays an initial planting grant plus subsequent establishment payments (either as an annual maintenance payment over 5 years or as two capital-item instalments), with rates that vary substantially by woodland type and location — for example, roughly £1,840-£2,880/ha in standard areas (native Scots pine at the lower end, broadleaves at the upper end) and higher 'targeted area' rates of roughly £2,070-£3,240/ha, alongside a further £750/ha uplift for the first 20 hectares of new woodland UK-wide and up to a £1,750/ha uplift within the Central Scotland Green Network area. The overall 2026 woodland-creation budget was increased by 15% to £36.7 million. Applications are assessed competitively against scoring criteria rather than approved on a simple first-come basis.

Eligibility summary

• Available in: Scotland.
• Most relevant to: Agriculture & Fisheries.

Notes

Whether applications can be submitted continuously or only within defined assessment rounds was not confirmed from official sources re-checked in September 2026 — treat the application timing as needing a direct check via Scottish Forestry or ruralpayments.org before advising a farmer on when to apply. Rates above are illustrative examples from a substantially longer, more granular rate table by species and area.

Requirement

Landowner or manager in Scotland (including farmers) proposing new woodland creation, with a Woodland Creation Operational Plan, maps, and Component Areas table submitted as part of the application; applications are scored competitively for cost-effectiveness and public benefit.