Farmers and landowners across Wales can now apply for enhanced tree planting grants, including a new £825 per hectare incentive for creating native broadleaf woodland.

The additional one-off payment forms part of the Welsh Government’s plans to encourage early tree planting over the next three years. It will sit alongside revised Woodland Creation Grant rates, which pay up to £13,294 per hectare, including 12 years of maintenance and premium payments, depending on the option chosen.

The £825 incentive will apply to woodland that is predominantly native broadleaf, with no more than 20 per cent conifers, and at least 800 stems per hectare.

Applications for Woodland Creation support have also reopened.

Farmers joining the Sustainable Farming Scheme must complete a Tree and Hedgerow Planting Opportunity Plan and plant at least 0.1 hectare by the end of 2028. The woodland grants are additional to the Universal Payment and can be used to go beyond the minimum requirement.

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: "This is an excellent opportunity for landowners and farmers to explore whether they have land which would benefit from additional tree planting, such as integrating shelterbelts or agroforestry to provide shade and shelter benefits to livestock. The payment recognises the ecosystem benefits delivered by native woodland, including improved biodiversity, carbon capture and air quality.

“This support gives farmers across Wales a renewed opportunity to bring forward tree planting proposals that work for their businesses. The changes introduced for 2026 are designed to make woodland creation simpler, more flexible and better aligned with practical farm realities, while continuing to deliver important environmental benefits for the long term.”

New water-related capital items, including troughs, piping and water gates to support riparian planting, have also been introduced. Contract lengths have been extended to allow up to two years to complete larger-scale planting.