The Forestry Grant Scheme offers financial support for the creation of new woodland and the sustainable management of existing woodland.
Within the scheme's eight categories, there are a range of support options covering planting, woodland protection, harvesting and more.
Summaries of the grant options available can be found in two guidance booklets - grant options for existing woodland owners and grant options for woodland creation.
You can find out more about the scheme and apply for a grant through the Scottish Government's Rural Payments and Services website, where you'll also find full guidance on how to make an application.
I have a question?
- if you have a question about the Forestry Grant Scheme, contact your local Scottish Forestry Office.
- if your question relates to the Rural Payments website, contact your local Agriculture and Rural Economy office.
Forestry Grant Scheme updates 
Below you will find formal updates released during the grant scheme lifecycle.
- This Briefing Note introduces new applicant’s guidance on cultivation for upland woodland creation sites - July 2021.
- This Briefing Note announces an additional submission round for applications to the Forestry Grant Scheme Harvesting and Processing option for projects in England and Wales - July 2021.
- This Briefing Note provides an update on FGS budget availability for new applications - as at 26 May 2021.
- This Briefing Note announces new funding for the Harvesting & Processing option - March 2021.
- This Briefing Note announces arrangements for 2020 Claim Year Capital Claims Processing - March 2021
- This Briefing Note introduces temporary arrangements for the Forestry Grant Scheme during early 2021 - Feb 2021.
- This Briefing Note provides information on contract arrangements as a result of the UK leaving the EU and provides an update on FGS budget availability for new applications - as at December 2020.
- This Briefing Note announces additional funding for Farm Woodland Creation - July 2020.
- This Briefing Note announces new funding for the Harvesting and Processing Option - July 2020.
- This Briefing Note provides an update on FGS budget availability for new applications - as at 21 April 2020.
- This Briefing Note further updates Scottish Forestry’s working arrangements in response to the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak - as at 9 April 2020.
- This Briefing Note provides information on Scottish Forestry’s new working arrangements in response to the coronavirus - COVID-19, as at 20 March 2020.
- This Briefing Note provides a general update on FGS, and includes budget availability for all Forestry Grant Scheme options, as at January 2020.
- This Briefing Note updates budget availability for all Forestry Grant Scheme options following publication of Protecting Scotland’s Future: The Government’s Programme for Scotland 2019-20 in September 2019.
- This Briefing Note follows a recent review of FGS standard costs that has resulted in a number of changes to capital item rates that were introduced 24 June 2019.
- This Briefing Note updates budget availability and threshold scores for new Forestry Grant Scheme applications as at April 2019.
- This Briefing Note provides information on the future of the Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) and updates budget availability and threshold scores for new FGS applications as at November 2018.
- This Briefing Note introduces the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) Compliance Procedure which formalises the Scottish Forestry (SF) response to potential breaches of UKFS.
Previous updates can be found in our Publications Library.
Customer charter
The Forestry Grant Scheme Customer Charter sets out the Customer Service Standards for our handling of Forestry Grant Scheme applications.
Review of forestry planting approval procedures
A review of forestry planting approval procedures was undertaken by Jim Mackinnon CBE. The review was designed to reduce the complexity, duration and cost of tree planting applications.
Key achievements
Significant progress has been made to deliver the 21 recommendations of the review. Some of the highlights are:
- an improved pre-application and consultation process including revised protocols between SF and three public bodies;
- improvements to how we manage the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process through threshold changes and a strengthened team dealing with complex cases and EIA casework;
- an improved approvals process and better promotion of the grant scheme, with new guidance to support applicants and training devised to support the sector and staff;
- improved management reports published to provide clearer information related to volume of woodland creation; and
- potential for large-planting schemes with four local authorities.