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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • DAERA Forestry Grants

    Topics:
    • Grants and Funding, 
    • Forestry grants

    Almost all woodlands in Northern Ireland are planted with some form of grant assistance. The Forest Service encourages the creation of new woodlands and the management of existing woodlands by providing grant aid towards the cost of the work.
    Forests for Our 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.

    Forest Expansion Scheme

    The Forest Expansion Scheme is for new woodland planting of 3 hectares and larger. All woodlands that comply with the UK Forestry Standard are eligible for support. Successful applicants will receive up to 100% of eligible establishment costs and where eligible annual premia for a 10-year period.

    The Forest Expansion Scheme is open, for the receipt of applications, for planting in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 planting seasons. Please refer to the Information Booklet for key dates for applications.

    • Forest Expansion Scheme information booklet
    • Forestry Grant Schemes – Terms and Conditions
    • Forestry Grant Schemes State Aid booklet
    • Forest Expansion Scheme Woodland Creation Plan - Application Form
    • Forest Expansion Scheme Costs Spreadsheet

    Small Woodland Grant Scheme

    The Small Woodland Grant Scheme is specifically for new native woodland planting of 0.20 hectares and larger.

    The scheme provides a fixed area based payment for woodland establishment, a fencing grant and where eligible annual premia for a 10-year period.

    The Small Woodland Grant Scheme is now closed for applications.

    • Small Woodland Grant Scheme - Info booklet
    • Small Woodland Grant Scheme - How to apply guide
    • Small Woodland Grant Scheme Online Application
    • Forestry Grant Schemes State Aid Booklet

    Forest Protection Scheme - Ash Dieback

    The Forest Protection Scheme – Ash Dieback is now closed for applications.

    Woodland Investment Grant

    The Woodland Investment Grant scheme is open for applications and will close on 31st December 2025.

    • Forest Management Plan Template - Woodland Investment Grant - Restocking - Scheme Year 2025
    • Woodland Investment Grant Information Booklet 2025

    Agri-environment

    • Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS)

    Legacy schemes (closed to new applicants)

    • Sustainable forest operation grant scheme (SFOG)
    • Farm woodland premium scheme (FWPS)
    • Short rotation coppice scheme (SRC)
    • Community woodland supplement (CWS)
    • Woodland grant scheme (WGS)
    • Restocking grant
    • Woodland environment grant (WEG)
    • Forestry challenge scheme

    UK Woodland Carbon Code

    The Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) is the quality assurance standard for woodland creation projects in the UK, and generates independently verified carbon units. Backed by the Government, the forest industry and carbon market experts, the Code is unique in providing woodland carbon units right here in the UK. The Woodland Carbon Code is internationally recognised for high standards of sustainable forest management and carbon management and is endorsed by ICROA, the global umbrella body for carbon reduction and offset providers in the voluntary market.

    Home - UK Woodland Carbon Code

    More useful links

    • Controls to avoid damage to environmental and cultural features
    • Forest Service penalty scheme
    • List of timber buyers in Northern Ireland
    • List of Forest Service contractors suppliers for Northern Ireland

    Related content

    • 2014 - 2020 Rural Development Programme
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