If you own or manage a farm, creating woodland can help to diversify your business and generate reliable revenue streams, bring direct benefits to your land, crops, and livestock, all while supporting the environment.

At the Forestry Commission we are passionate about supporting farmers, this is why we are sponsoring the Sustainability Champion of the Year award in the South West Farmers Awards 2023 which celebrates the huge efforts that farmers are putting in to make a positive contribution to the wider natural environment.

Each woodland is different, and income depends on factors such as size, type, composition, as well as your objectives and local markets. Woodland can enhance business revenue through:

  • Carbon. By registering woodland creation schemes with the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC), you can apply for the Woodland Carbon Guarantee (WCaG) and sell carbon units to the government, or on the private market, from as early as five years after planting. With carbon prices ranging from £10 to £30+ per unit, projects can see a generous return.
  • Timber, wood products, and woodfuel. Every part of the tree holds value – high quality timber can be sold as saw logs or construction material, small roundwood for fencing, pulp, or chipwood products, and wood for fuel and heating.
  • Recreation and leisure. Woodlands designed for recreation and leisure can offer new and exciting opportunities such as creating suitable habitats for game that could generate an income from shoots. Idyllic woodland settings appeal to holiday makers looking for camping and glamping experiences as well as sporting activities. 
  • Integrating trees into your farming system. Agroforestry can increase farm productivity, support nature, enhance livestock welfare, and boost soil health. Trees can further provide shelter for livestock, support animal health and welfare, and improve production.

In addition to these benefits, woodland supports the environment, providing rich and diverse habitats for thousands of species. They sustain healthy ecosystems, regulate our climate, support pollinators, and protect our soils. Creating more woodland will enable us to restore and reconnect England’s wooded landscape, joining up vital wildlife corridors – with each and every tree giving nature a fighting chance to recover and thrive.

Get support every step of the way 

There are various options available to fund different woodland creation projects, offering you the flexibility and financial support to plant. The full range of Forestry Commission and partner grants are available on gov.uk/forestry/tree-planting-funding.