What’s the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)?

Recently, The Forestry Commission launched The England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) to persuade more land managers and farmers to grow trees.

The new initiative, financed by nearly £16,000,000 within the initial year, is included in the government’s plan to boost the number of trees planted across England by the close of the existing parliament.

Below, we’ve pulled together a few things you need to know about the grant scheme.

Supports Woodland Creation, Big and Small 

The Woodland Carbon Fund – the principal funding scheme for countrywide planting – has been replaced by the England Woodland Creation Offer.

Rather than the rock-bottom size of woodland being 10 hectares (under the Woodland Carbon Fund), under the EWCO, it’s now one hectare per claim. There’s also a minimal per-block limit of 0.1 hectares.

Mainly, funding will concentrate on creating expansive native broadleaf woodlands. However, it’ll also support sophisticated mixed woodlands and the majority of conifer. You can apply throughout the year.

Extra costs are available for the delivery of public merchandise

If your woodland offers public and broader environmental benefits, then you may receive top-up payments.

This is according to the government’s ambition to generate ‘public money for public goods’. Woodland owners may be able to take advantage of the environmental assistance that their forests offer.

Extra payments are available, including:

• Planting trees close to waterways (buffer strip) and watercourses – £1,600 per hectare is accessible when creating native broadleaved woodland along rivers to enhance river environments.
• Recovery of species and nature – receive from £1,100 per hectare through to £2,800 per hectare if forest creation helps forest-dwelling priority breeds to recuperate.
• Flood risk reduction – get £500 per hectare if woodland creation decreases the chance of flooding.
• Close to communities – £500 per hectare is available if woodland creation offers environmental and social advantages by being near to settlements.
• Enhanced public access – £2,200 per hectare is available if woodland creation offers long-lasting free-for-all access for public enjoyment.
• Enhanced quality of water – £400 per hectare if a woodland intercepts pollution and sediment and cleans water prior to reaching waterways.

Payment Are More Substantial than Under the Woodland Carbon Fund

Rather than payments being capped at £6,800 per hectare for most schemes, EWCO pays up to £8,500 per hectare which covers one hundred per cent of the planting and establishing new woodland costs.

Under the previous scheme, only projects in priority areas attracted a higher level of funding.  

As soon as capital works are finished, you can receive yearly maintenance payments of £200 per hectare for 10 years.

Contact Us

Lockhart Garratt’s team of Chartered Foresters and Surveyors offers advice on all aspects of Woodland Management and Forestry, including harvesting and woodland creation. To find out more about our services, drop us a line.