There are several organisations in Scotland who are available to help you navigate the grants process.
On this page you'll find a summary of the organisations offering advisory services on agroforestry and the most important links on their websites.
We've also included stories from farmers who've gone through the process already.
The Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust work with landowners and managers to create new native woodlands and halt the loss of existing native woodlands across Scotland.
They offer a wide range of support and free advice, including grants for planting new Native Woodlands, grants to subsidise planting new hedgerows, and advice on restoring Ancient Woodlands.
Here's where you can find out more about this support:
MOREwoods: Anyone planting over half a hectare can speak to an expert advisor to get help designing your woodland. The Woodland Trust can cover up to 75% of the cost of this.
MOREhedges: Through this programme, the Woodland Trust can subsidise up to 75% of the cost if you plant more than 100 metres of new hedging allowing a large tree to grow every six metres.
Croft Woodlands: The Woodland Trust have four advisors who can assist with new planting proposals and assist with applications for funding.
Scottish Forestry is making it easier for you to create new woodlands and reap the many benefits they bring. There’s plenty of advice and financial support through the Forestry Grant Scheme.
There are various grant options to help you get planting – including support for conifers, broadleaves and small farm woodlands to name just a few – all of which could meet your business objectives. The grants can help you establish a new woodland and maintain it in years to come.
There’s an easy to understand “walk through” guide to assist in the preparation of new woodland creation applications which you can view here.
Scottish Forestry has a network of woodland officers around the country in local offices. Please get in contact at an early stage to discuss your woodland creation proposals.
The Croft Woodlands Project offers free support to crofters, common grazing committees and smallholders within the crofting counties.
If you require extra income to make woodland creation viable and are eligible, you can also consider the Woodland Carbon Code where you can sell on carbon credits from your new woodland.
Scottish Forestry and FAS, SAC Consulting’s Forestry Team podcast. It answers ten of the most frequently asked questions around woodland creation.
Case Study: Read how one farming family turned their livestock farm around by planting acres of hard-to-farm land with trees, creating shelter and an investment.
If you're a farmer or crofter, you can also apply for up to £1,000 funding through the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) to enlist the help of a specialist adviser to help with woodland creation.
The adviser will work with the land manager to add value to underproductive land by reviewing farm-specific opportunities and financial incentives available to create or manage woodland.
To apply or for more information, call 0300 323 0161 or email advice@fas.scot
Other information on grants for agroforestry projects
The direct link to the FGS Rural Payments page ishere
Woodland Creation Grants Info:This link goes to the general page, which lists all the individual options and payment rates, and further down the page lists the rates for capital items such as fencing. Clicking on the option headings takes you to a page detailing the requirements for each option.
Woodland Improvement Grant:This can cover items such as a Woodland Grazing Management Plan or grant towards restocking a felled area.
Hear from farmers
Hear from farmers on their experiences going through the application process to start an agroforestry project.
Iain and Marion Macdonald of Ardoch and Threepland farms, East Renfrewshire, say they turned their livestock farm around by planting acres of hard-to-farm land with trees.
In Broughton in the Borders, award-winning farmer Peter Gascoigne has transformed his farm business using trees. He says the trees provide tax-free income for his family, enhance his farm business and give him the pleasure of seeing more wildlife.
