What is the DAERA forestry grants?
The Forest Service not only plants and manages woodland in the public forests under its control. It also helps the planting and management of privately owned woodlands. This is done through grant payments to help landowners plant and manage their woodlands. The DAERA forestry grants not only plants and manages woodland in the public forests under its control. It also helps the planting and management of privately owned woodlands.
Future programme aims to plant 18 million trees or 9,000 hectares of new woodland over the next 10 years to help our environment and economy. Grant funding for creating new woodlands will be via the Small Woodland Grant Scheme or the Forest Expansion Scheme.
Successful applicants will receive:
- a grant that covers the following costs: initial ground preparation, cost of trees (from a defined list), tree planting, weeding, monitoring and protection. You can plant your own woodland, use existing farm labour or employ a contractor to do some or all of the work
- an annual payment (Premia) for 10 years when trees are planted on land that’s been used for agricultural purposes. These payments cover the loss of income from the agricultural land.
Eligibility
Grants are available for land owners, including:
• Farmers
• Landowners and estate owners
• Charitable organisations
• Local Councils (Establishment Grant Only)
Government bodies and agencies are not eligible to apply for Forestry Grant Schemes. The main aim of the Forest Expansion Scheme is to encourage applicants to establish new woodland at a landscape scale, with associated environmental, economic and social benefits. Support is provided for afforestation of both agricultural and non-agricultural land.
