Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG)
Forestry Commission · England
The Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG) provides funding to support the preparation of UK Forestry Standard (UKFS)-compliant woodland creation design plans. It helps applicants identify site constraints and opportunities and develop detailed woodland creation proposals before applying for woodland creation funding. (Find a Grant)
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Updated
16 Oct 2026
The Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG) provides funding to support the preparation of UK Forestry Standard (UKFS)-compliant woodland creation design plans. It helps applicants identify site constraints and opportunities and develop detailed woodland creation proposals before applying for woodland creation funding. (Find a Grant)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Forestry, land management, environmental conservation
Match funding
Not specified
Eligible applicants
Landowners, land managers and public bodies, excluding Forestry England. (Find a Grant)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Two-stage funding model: Stage 1 provides £1,500 for desk-based assessment; Stage 2 provides £150 per hectare, less the Stage 1 payment, for completion of the detailed woodland creation design plan. A minimum Stage 2 payment of £500 applies for applications under 10 hectares. Total funding is capped at £30,500 per project. (Find a Grant)
Total fund available
Up to £30,500 per project
Funding intensity
Two-stage funding model: Stage 1 provides £1,500 for desk-based assessment; Stage 2 provides £150 per hectare, less the Stage 1 payment, for completion of the detailed woodland creation design plan. A minimum Stage 2 payment of £500 applies for applications under 10 hectares. Total funding is capped at £30,500 per project. (Find a Grant)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Woodland creation planning, biodiversity, landscape, water environment, historic environment and local stakeholder engagement
Eligible expenses
- Desk-based site assessment, mapping, surveys, preparation of woodland creation design plans and agreed specialist survey work. (Find a Grant)
Ineligible costs
- Work already required under existing obligations is not eligible for funding. Sites already covered by certain woodland creation funding applications or an Environmental Impact Assessment enquiry may also be ineligible. (Find a Grant)
Application and risks
Application platform
Forestry Commission
Competitiveness
Not scored
Decision timeline
Written decision typically provided within 15 working days of application submission. (Find a Grant)
Assessment process
Written decision typically provided within 15 working days of application submission. (Find a Grant)
Application sections
Not specified
Application components
- Application form, site context map, Stage 1 Woodland Creation Design Plan Template, supporting documents and, where applicable, Stage 2 design plans and specialist survey information. (Find a Grant)
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
- Feasibility of woodland creation, compliance with UK Forestry Standard, quality of the proposed design, biodiversity, landscape, water, historic environment and stakeholder considerations.
Decision risks
Applications may take longer where sites involve sensitive locations, significant constraints or the need for specialist surveys. Applications may also be rejected where eligibility requirements or UKFS requirements are not met.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
1 Dec 2015
Project duration
Not specified
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-13.
Initial Research Grant
£1,500 (Stage 1 – desk-based feasibility and site assessment)
Training Grant
Not specified
Future Funding (Subject to Stage Gate)
Stage 2 funding at £150 per hectare, minus the £1,500 Stage 1 payment, subject to successful Stage 1 assessment; supplementary payments may be available for agreed specialist surveys. (Find a Grant)
Intent to Apply Deadline
Not specified
Eligible Training Costs
Not specified
Key Organisational Requirements
Applicants must plan woodland creation in England covering at least 5 hectares in total. Where woodland is split into blocks, each block must meet National Forest Inventory requirements of at least 0.5 hectares and 20 metres width. Landowner consent is required where the applicant does not own the land. (Find a Grant)
Governance Requirements
Woodland design plans must comply with the UK Forestry Standard and account for relevant environmental and stakeholder considerations.
Monitoring Requirements
Completion and approval of the Woodland Creation Design Plan and supporting documentation at the relevant funding stage. (Find a Grant)
Environmental & EDI Requirements
Design must consider biodiversity, landscape, water, historic environment and local stakeholder interests.
Important Notes
Minimum project size is 5 hectares and funding is capped at £30,500. Applications can be submitted year-round and there is currently no closing date. Stage 2 funding is dependent on Stage 1 confirming potential for a UKFS-compliant woodland creation scheme. (Find a Grant)
Application deadline in source document
Open year-round; no current closing date. Funding is currently confirmed until 31 March 2030. (Find a Grant)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- Two-stage funding model: Stage 1 provides £1,500 for desk-based assessment; Stage 2 provides £150 per hectare, less the Stage 1 payment, for completion of the detailed woodland creation design plan. A minimum Stage 2 payment of £500 applies for applications under 10 hectares. Total funding is capped at £30,500 per project. (Find a Grant)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant funding for woodland creation planning and design
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Forestry, land management, environmental conservation
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- Not specified