England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)
Forestry Commission, funded through the Nature for Climate Fund / Defra Trees Programme (Find a Grant) · England
The England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) provides funding to support the creation of new woodland in England, including capital costs, annual maintenance and additional payments for wider environmental and social benefits. (Find a Grant)
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Updated
16 Oct 2026
The England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) provides funding to support the creation of new woodland in England, including capital costs, annual maintenance and additional payments for wider environmental and social benefits. (Find a Grant)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Forestry, agriculture, land management, environmental conservation
Match funding
Not specified
Eligible applicants
Landowners, land managers and public bodies
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Up to £10,200 per hectare for standard capital costs, plus up to £12,700 per hectare in additional stackable payments for eligible wider benefits. An annual maintenance payment of £400 per hectare is available for 15 years. (Find a Grant)
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
Up to £10,200 per hectare for standard capital costs, plus up to £12,700 per hectare in additional stackable payments for eligible wider benefits. An annual maintenance payment of £400 per hectare is available for 15 years. (Find a Grant)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Not applicable
Eligible expenses
- Not applicable
Ineligible costs
- Costs or activities that fall outside the eligible EWCO capital, infrastructure, maintenance or additional contribution payments
Application and risks
Application platform
GOV.UK / Forestry Commission EWCO application process
Competitiveness
Not scored
Decision timeline
Applications typically take 3 to 5 months to process from receipt of a complete application. (Find a Grant)
Assessment process
Applications typically take 3 to 5 months to process from receipt of a complete application. (Find a Grant)
Application sections
Not specified
Application components
- Application form, woodland design and supporting information required under EWCO guidance, including information on the proposed woodland and eligible activities. (Find a Grant)
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
- Eligibility, woodland design, compliance with the UK Forestry Standard, environmental and public benefits, site suitability and deliverability
Decision risks
Applications may take longer where information is incomplete or where the site requires additional assessment or stakeholder engagement.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
1 Jun 2021
Project duration
Not specified
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-14.
Initial Research Grant
Not specified
Training Grant
Not specified
Future Funding (Subject to Stage Gate)
Not specified
In-Kind Support
Not specified
Intent to Apply Deadline
Not specified
International Participation
Not applicable
Eligible Training Costs
Not specified
Key Organisational Requirements
Land must be entirely within England and under the applicant's management control for the full agreement period. Woodland creation must normally cover at least 1 hectare, with individual compartments no smaller than 0.1 hectare and a minimum width of 20 metres, except for certain riparian buffers and shelterbelts. (Find a Grant)
Governance Requirements
Woodland creation and management must comply with the UK Forestry Standard and the conditions of the EWCO agreement. (GOV.UK)
Monitoring Requirements
Applicants must complete the agreed woodland creation and maintenance activities and comply with Forestry Commission agreement and inspection requirements.
Doctoral Studentships
Not applicable
Industry Leverage Expectation
Not specified
Environmental & EDI Requirements
Strong focus on climate change mitigation, nature recovery, water quality, flood risk reduction, recreational access, proximity to communities and ammonia capture. (Find a Grant)
important notes
Applicants can apply at any time of year. To secure an agreement offer in time for the next planting season, applications should be submitted by 31 May. EWCO funding is currently confirmed through 31 March 2030, but this is not a fixed closure date. (Find a Grant)
Application deadline in source document
Open year-round. The GOV.UK Find a Grant listing currently shows 31 March 2030 as the funding confirmation period, not a known closure date. (Find a Grant)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- Up to £10,200 per hectare for standard capital costs, plus up to £12,700 per hectare in additional stackable payments for eligible wider benefits. An annual maintenance payment of £400 per hectare is available for 15 years. (Find a Grant)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant funding for woodland creation, establishment and maintenance
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Forestry, agriculture, land management, environmental conservation
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- Not specified