Create a woodland management plan Grant

About this grant

This page provides guidance from the Forestry Commission on how to create a woodland management plan (WMP) for use in grant applications and felling licence applications in England. A woodland management plan gives land managers a structured way to plan and organise the sustainable management of woodland to a common industry standard under the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS). The plan helps landowners demonstrate how they will manage and monitor their woodland sustainably, apply for grant schemes that require an approved management plan, and plan for and receive a felling licence for up to 10 years of felling. The guidance covers how to produce a woodland management plan using the appropriate template depending on woodland size: a small woodland management plan template for up to 3 hectares, and a full woodland management plan template for woodlands over 10 hectares or for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier applications. Applicants must include all woodland on their property, complete an inventory and plan of operations worksheet, and provide appropriate maps showing compartment boundaries, location, operations, and constraints. Land managers can apply for a Countryside Stewardship grant (PA3: woodland management plan) to help fund the production of a woodland management plan for woodland over 0.5 hectares. If applying for this grant, applicants must use the full woodland management plan template regardless of woodland size. The page also details submission requirements, how to appoint an agent, how to check for designations and special features, and how to contact a local Woodland Officer for advice.

Eligibility

Applicants must be land managers or landowners in England with woodland on their property. The guidance applies to all woodlands and woodland operations regardless of ownership or management type. To be eligible for the Countryside Stewardship PA3 grant to fund production of a woodland management plan, the woodland must be over 0.5 hectares. Applicants for CS Higher Tier must use the full woodland management plan template regardless of woodland size. Non-Forestry Commission woodland plan templates are not eligible for CS PA3 capital funding. If using grant funding to write the plan, the grant agreement must be in place before starting work.

How it's scored

The page does not describe specific evaluation or scoring criteria for the woodland management plan grant. Plans are assessed for compliance with the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS). The Forestry Commission reviews submitted plans for completeness, correct template use, accurate inventory and plan of operations data, appropriate maps, and disclosure of any land designations or special features. Non-compliant or incomplete submissions may be returned for correction.

Key requirements

• ✓Applicant must own or manage woodland
• ✓Plan must be for sustainable woodland development
• ✓Plan will support future grant and felling licence applications
• ✓Focus on long-term woodland planning and management

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for Create a woodland management plan?

Eligibility covers organisations in GB; nonprofit, charity, social-enterprise, cooperative, local-authority, community-group, individual. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Forestry funding supports afforestation, reforestation, sustainable forest management and avoided deforestation. Money flows from climate finance, nature programmes, results-based payments and corporate buyers of forest carbon. Calls typically require land tenure clarity, community engagement and a credible plan to monitor tree survival over time.