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1.Ìý±õ³¾±è´Ç°ù³Ù²¹²Ô³ÙÌý»å²¹³Ù±ð²õ

PA3: Woodland management plan (WMP) is available to applicants all year from 5 January 2026.

You can also apply forÌýother capital grants.

PA3 is available to foresters, farmers and land managers.Ìý

2.Ìý´¡²ú´Ç³Ü³Ù WMP

You can apply for aÌýWMP as capital item PA3. It is a one-off payment to help you create a 10-year WMP that complies with the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS).

You must accept your agreement offer before you can start work on yourÌýWMP.

¸é±ð²¹»åÌýCreate a woodland management planÌýto help you.

Read PA3: Woodland management plan for more details and what you need to do to get paid for this capital item.

2.1 WMP agreements and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT)

You must have aÌýWMPÌýapproved by the Forestry Commission before you can apply for woodland support under CSHT (agreements starting from 2025). This is the case whether your CSHT application is woodland-only or woodland in a ‘mixed’ agreement (an agreement that includes woodland and agri-environment land). You must submit your draftÌýWMPÌýto the Forestry Commission giving sufficient time for approval before applying for a CSHT agreement.

If you need a felling licence as part of your WMP, you must get permission before you get a WMP agreement. You will need to plan as felling proposals need to be published on a public register for 21 days.

2.2ÌýLandÌýin Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Stewardship (ES) agreements

You can make aÌýWMP application on land that is already included in an existingÌýESÌý²¹²µ°ù±ð±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù, if preparation of aÌýWMPÌýis not a requirement of ³Ù³ó±ðÌýESÌý²¹²µ°ù±ð±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù.

However, you cannot enter land in an existingÌýESÌý²¹²µ°ù±ð±ð³¾±ð²Ô³ÙÌý¾±²Ô³Ù´ÇÌýCSHT until the ES agreement has ended on that land.

2.3ÌýHowÌýapplications are assessed

Your application is not scored. If you are eligible to apply (read section 3) and there is sufficient budget, ³Ù³ó±ðÌýRPAÌý(supported by a Forestry Commission officer) will approve your application.

2.4ÌýWhatÌýthe plan cannot pay for

You cannot useÌýyour WMP to pay for:

• planning application fees or other transactional fees meeting legal requirements, including planning conditions and tenancy agreements
• the cost of the woodland management work itself
• any work done before the agreement start date or materials purchased
• agent fees or other advisory fees
• in-kind contributions (this means the value of donated work or services) or gifted materials where you have not incurred a cost for them

2.5ÌýWhenÌýto apply

You can apply at any time. PA3 is available throughout the year subject to sufficient budget. Read section 4 for information on how to apply for aÌýWMP.

If you are offered an agreement and you accept it, you can start working with the Forestry Commission on a draftÌýWMP. The plan must follow standards and procedures set out in: Create a woodland management plan.

2.6ÌýWhatÌýyou’ll get paid

We calculate the amount to be paid using the total area of eligible woodland on the holding. This can include a maximum of 20% newly planted woodland (this is woodland that is under 10 years old at the time of application). However, yourÌýWMPÌýmust cover all the woodland on the holding (including all newly planted woodland).

Threshold payments for eligible land:

• 0.5 hectares (ha) to 50ha: flat rate of £1,500
• 51ha to 100ha: flat rate of £1,500 for the first 50ha, plus £30 for each additional hectare up to and including 100ha
• more than 100ha: flat rate of £3,000, plus £15 for each additional hectare over 100ha

If your land already has an approvedÌýWMPÌýbut a change in circumstances means a new one is needed, contact your Forestry Commission area office for advice from a Forestry Commission officer about whether you are eligible.

3.  WhoÌýcan apply and what land is eligibleÌý

A WMP is available to land managers who are:Ìý

• an owner occupierÌý
• a tenantÌý
• a landlordÌý
• a licensor if they have management control of the land and activities needed to meet the obligations of the grant for the full duration of the agreementÌý

3.1ÌýLandÌýthat is eligible for a WMP

To be eligible for aÌýWMP, land parcels must be entirely within England and the land must be woodland. Woodland is defined as an area of land that:Ìý

• is at least 0.5 hectaresÌý
• has an average width of at least 20 metresÌý
• is a group or line of trees that are, or will reach, at least 5 metres in heightÌý
• has a crown cover of more than 20% of the ground areaÌý

The woodland must be larger than 0.5 hectares in total. The total area for the application can be made up of separate blocks of woodland, but the minimum block size must be 0.5ha.

You must include all woodland on your holding in your WMP. A holding is all the land in the same geographical location that is managed as a unit. For larger holdings, this is all woodland within the same geographical location (read section 4.2) for more details.

The area of eligible internal open space is limited to 20% of the total woodland area (in exceptional cases this may be increased to 30% and the Forestry Commission can advise on this). Open space may include forest tracks, rides, way leaves and other permanent open areas, but should be managed as part of the woodland environment.Ìý

Land that has previously received funding for a WMP may be eligible for another plan, with the agreement of your Forestry Commission officer.

However, under the allowance for including up to 20% newly planted woodland in a WMP agreement, we will not accept any land that is also currently in:Ìý

• a High Speed Two (HS2) agreementÌý
• a Woodland Carbon Fund agreementÌý
• an England Woodland Creation Offer agreementÌý

Or either:Ìý

• within the durability period under a Woodland Creation Grant agreement (5 years following the agreement end date)Ìý
• currently in a Woodland Creation Maintenance grant agreement (10 years)Ìý

Land parcels already included in an existing CS agreement or in an ES Higher Level Stewardship agreement are also eligible for aÌýWMP, provided the same WMP is not being funded twice, and the options, actions and items are compatible.

3.2ÌýLandÌýthat is not eligible

The following land is not eligible for aÌýWMP:

• land that does not meet the definition of a woodland, as set out in section 3.1
• developed land and hard standing (including permanent caravan sites and areas used for permanent storage)
• land that is part of another obligation which is incompatible with a WMP, for example woodland that is already under an obligation to have a written management plan
• any land parcels which are not entirely within England – parcels that are either partly or entirely within Scotland or Wales are not eligible forÌýaÌýWMP
• land where you do not have management control for the period of the agreement, and you are not able to have an application countersigned by the landowner (read section 3.3)
• land within ³Ù³ó±ðÌýHS2Ìýroute safeguarding zone

3.3ÌýManagementÌýcontrol of land

Having management control means you’re the person actively farming the land and you’re either:

• the owner occupier
• a tenant

You must have management control of the land in an agreement for 5 years from your agreement start date, or the countersignature of your landlord (see section 3.3.1).

This includes all activities needed to meet the payment.

If you do not meet these requirements, you must get the written consent of all other parties who have management control.

3.3.1 Tenants

If you occupy land under a tenancy, you must have:

• a tenancy agreement for at least 3 years from the start of yourÌýWMP agreement (however, please see the requirements in relation to a rolling tenancy below)
• the agreement of your landlord before you apply
• a countersignature from your landlord if you do not have management control for 5 years from the start of your agreement
• control of all the activities over the land to meet the scheme requirements for your WMP

It is your responsibility to check when you apply for aÌýWMP that you do not breach the terms of your tenancy agreement.

If your tenancy is renewed each year on a rolling basis, you must be certain your tenancy will extend to the length of yourÌýWMP agreement. You must check this with your landlord before you apply. If your landlord takes over aÌýWMP agreement from you once your tenancy has ended, they must be eligible to do so. For example, they must not be a public body, which is not eligible for aÌýWMP.

3.3.2 Landlords

If you are a landlord and can show that you keep management control over the land and activities, you can apply for an agreement on land you have leased to a tenant.

As the Agreement Holder, you must give your tenant a copy of yourÌýWMPÌý²¹²µ°ù±ð±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù. We may ask you to provide evidence to show that you have done this. It is your responsibility to make sure that your tenant does not breach the terms of the agreement.

3.3.3 Partnerships

If you are in a business partnership, you can apply forÌýaÌýWMP. The person submitting the application must have the appropriate permission levels in ³Ù³ó±ðÌýRural Payments service.

3.3.4 Licensors

If you are a licensor, you can apply for aÌýWMPÌý²¹²µ°ù±ð±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù. It is your responsibility to make sure that the licensee does not breach the terms of theÌý²¹²µ°ù±ð±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù.

You must make sure that the licensee is aware of the requirements of the agreement, as relevant to the licence, and include these in the licence agreement.

3.3.5 Licensees

Licensees are usually not eligible for aÌýWMPÌýas a licence arrangement will not provide sufficient management control of the land to the licensee for the agreement period.

If in practice your licence agreement gives you wider land management responsibilities, this may mean you are a tenant and therefore may be eligible forÌýaÌýWMP. You must show that you have sufficient management control of the land and activities to be able to apply. See section 3.3.1 for more information about tenants.

3.3.6 Land owned by public bodies

Land is not eligible if it is owned or managed by:

• Crown bodies (including all government departments, executive agencies and trading funds)
• non-departmental public bodies (NDPB)

See aÌýlist of all government departments, agencies and public bodies.

Land owned by some public bodies is eligible forÌýaÌýWMPÌýprovided the work does not form part of their obligations as a public body.

This includes land owned by:

• local authorities
• national park authorities
• public corporations

Parish councils and former college farms are not considered to be public bodies and so are eligible to apply forÌýaÌýWMP.

3.3.7 Tenants of land owned by public bodies

If you are a tenant of a public body, you will need to check if the land is eligible forÌýa WMP with your landlord. If it is, you must get the public body to countersign your application if you do not have a tenancy agreement for the full term of aÌýWMP agreement.

If you have a tenancy agreement for the full term of aÌýWMP agreement, you are eligible to apply as a tenant with management control of the land. See section 3.3.1.

You cannot apply for aÌýWMP for any work that is a requirement of your tenancy or any other legally binding obligation.

3.4ÌýLandÌýreceiving other funding

You cannot:

• combine aÌýWMP with other sources of public funding to provide the same plan on the same land
• use the grant to produce aÌýWMPÌýwhich you are required to carry out under other agreements

Other funding includes:

• Environmental Stewardship
• other capital grants
• English Woodland Grant Scheme
• Heritage Lottery Fund
• Farming in Protected Landscapes
• Woodland Carbon Fund
• HS2ÌýWoodland Fund

This is not an exhaustive list.

You may be able to apply for aÌýWMP agreement in addition to an existingÌýCS,ÌýESÌýorÌýSustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)Ìý²¹²µ°ù±ð±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù, if the:

• same action is not being funded twice
• actions required in your existing agreement and yourÌýWMPÌý²¹²µ°ù±ð±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù are compatible

We will carry out checks to make sure that your WMP is not funded twice from public money.

4.ÌýHowÌýto apply for a WMP

Follow the steps to apply for a WMP.

4.1ÌýCheckÌýyou and your land are registered

To apply for aÌýWMP you need to register or be registered in the Rural Payments service. Use the guidance onÌýregistering and updating your detailsÌýto help you.

All land parcels listed on your application must be registered on your digital maps in the Rural Payments service and have a parcel reference number (in the format AA1234 5678) before you apply. Check the Rural Payments service toÌýfind out if your land parcels are registered and up to date.

If your land parcels are not registered, you mustÌýsubmit a rural land change requestÌýto register the land and wait for this to be completed before applying.

4.1.1 Authorise an agent

You can authorise an agent to fill in and submit your application for you. This also applies to payment claim forms for agreement holders.

For an agent to act for you, you must give them the appropriate permission levels in ³Ù³ó±ðÌýRural Payments service. This applies even if you have previously authorised the agent using the paper agent authorisation form.

¸é±ð²¹»åÌýRural Payments service: give or update permissionsÌýfor more information on the different levels of permission. You should also read the information in the Permission levels screen in the Rural Payments service. This lists what is permitted at each level. You are responsible for ensuring that permissions assigned on the Rural Payments service are made correctly and that all contact details are correct.

4.2ÌýInclude all woodland in your holding

You should include all eligible woodland on your holding when you apply for aÌýWMP. However, if your business manages several woodlands in different geographical locations, it may not be appropriate to produce a singleÌýWMPÌýto cover them all.

In this situation, you can apply to create a plan that covers part of your holding. The Forestry Commission will provide technical advice that will help to decide what forms a holding in each case.

4.3ÌýWaysÌýto apply

You should submit your application online if you can. If you are unable to apply online, you can apply by email or by post.

ÌýA completeÌýWMP application is made up of:

• ³Ù³ó±ðÌýWMP application form (either submitted online or sent by email or post)
• ³Ù³ó±ðÌýWMPÌýannex – if you are applying online, you do not need to fill in the land summary tab in ³Ù³ó±ðÌýWMPÌýannex, as you will have already selected your land parcels as part of the online application
• a map of the land to be included in the application – this must meet the minimum mapping standards (see section 4.4)

You must not submit a draftÌýWMPÌýwith this application. You can only start work on the draftÌýWMPÌýonce you have:

• accepted the offer, by signing the agreement
• returned it to us
• reached the agreement start date

If you are eligible and there is sufficient funding your offer will be made under the Capital grants agreements: Terms and Conditions 2026.

4.3.1 Apply online

You can apply for aÌýWMPÌýonline through the Rural Payments service. Use ³Ù³ó±ðÌýHow to complete your online PA3 Woodland management plan application guidance to help you.

You cannot submit aÌýWMPÌýannex online, even if you are applying online. You must send us the annex by email or post. To request an annex, emailÌýruralpayments@defra.gov.ukÌýor call 03000 200 301.

4.3.2 Apply by email or post

If you cannot apply online, you can send us aÌýWMPÌýapplication formÌýby email or post. Use ³Ù³ó±ðÌýHow to complete your PA3 Woodland management plan application by email or post guidance to help you.

If you are unable to get online, or cannot download the application form, you can also request a copy of the form by emailingÌýruralpayments@defra.gov.ukÌýor calling 03000 200 301.

4.4ÌýPrepareÌýa map to support your application

You must provide a map (or maps) showing the full area of the woodland you are including in your proposedÌýWMPÌýand send this with yourÌýWMP application.

To help you prepare your map, use guidance on:

• How to complete your online PA3 Woodland management plan application
• How to complete your PA3 Woodland management plan application by email or post

4.5ÌýBusinessÌýviability test

We will check all applicants against an insolvency register. If your application is not financially viable, we may not offer you an agreement.

If the value of your application is more than £50,000, you must submit a statement from a registered accountant (for example, a chartered accountant or certified accountant). This is to confirm that the business or SBIÌýhas the resources from trading profits, reserves or loans to carry out the work in the proposed agreement schedule.

The accountant will need to provide a letter on headed paper which confirms:

• they are a registered accountant
• they act as the accountant for the applicant or have been contracted to act on behalf of the applicant
• that you as the applicant have sufficient finances to complete the capital works in your application and how these funds will be sourced (for example, savings or loan)
• their understanding of the total value of the capital works in the application

4.6Ìý³Ò±ð³ÙÌý³¦´Ç²Ô²õ±ð²Ô³Ù

You do not need to provide any consent when you make yourÌýWMP application.

However, if the work proposed affects certain designated sites, RPA may need to see your consents before we can approve your WMP.

4.6.1 Sites of special scientific interest (SSSI)

You mustÌýget consent from Natural EnglandÌýif your application includes land in aÌýSSSI.

You must have an approvedÌýWMPÌýfor the 10-year period of your CSHT agreement. If you have aÌýWMPÌýthat ends before your CSHT agreement, you will need approval of a newÌýWMPÌýfor the remainder of your CSHT agreement.

You can submit a draft for a newÌýWMP within 12 months of your existingÌýWMPÌý±ð²Ô»å¾±²Ô²µ.

If your CSHT application relates to a woodlandÌýSSSI, you also need Natural England to give their consent on yourÌýWMP. You will be able to submit aÌýSSSIÌýmanagement notice for Natural England consent if you have WMPs in place for the duration of your woodlandÌý²¹²µ°ù±ð±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù. If you have historic features in your woodland, you must declare them in your WMP.

4.6.2 Scheduled monuments

For any work related to scheduled monuments you may need toÌýÌýfor consent. You can do this at the same time as getting the Forestry Commission’s approval of yourÌýWMP or you can do this separately.

4.7Ìý±á´Ç·É RPA checks your application

We will check that your application:

• meets the eligibility requirements
• is complete
• includes an annotated map

RPA will contact you if there is any missing information. You must send RPA the missing information they ask for within the timescales we give you. If you do not, RPA may reject your application.

If this happens, you will then need to resubmit your application, making sure you provide all the information we need and that you have met all the eligibility requirements. You must not start to create aÌýWMPÌýuntil you have an agreement.

4.7.1 Receiving an offer and accepting an agreement

If you apply online (section 4.3.1), you will only be able to submit your application if you have met all the eligibility requirements. The Rural Payments service will reject your application if it fails any of the eligibility requirements. The service gives onscreen feedback to explain why this has happened. If this happens, you can edit and resubmit your application.

If you apply using a paper form (section 4.3.2), we will need to manually carry out eligibility checks. We will contact you if you fail any of the checks and explain how you can correct them.

If you are eligible and there is sufficient budget, we will send you an agreement offer by post. You must accept or decline the offer, sign and date the declaration and return it to us. You can ask us for an acknowledgement that we have received your signed agreement.

The agreement start date will be shown on your agreement and will usually be 3 to 6 weeks after you receive your agreement offer. The agreement start date cannot be amended.

4.7.2 Creating and submitting a draftÌýWMP

You can only start creating aÌýWMPÌýafter the agreement start date. You must follow the guidance:ÌýCreate a woodland management plan, use the template provided and submit your WMP to the Forestry Commission (read annex 2 for contact details).

Use the for information on how to benefit rare and declining woodland wildlife.

Send your draftÌýWMPÌýto ³Ù³ó±ðÌýForestry Commission.

The Forestry Commission will only accept supporting documents, if they are either printed and sent by post or scanned and attached to an email. The maximum email size that they can accept is 32MB. For security reasons, they cannot accept discs, USB pen drives or other external storage media.

A Forestry Commission officer will contact you and help you to develop the plan for final approval. The finalÌýWMPÌý(including any associated felling permissions) needs to be approved by the Forestry Commission before the agreement end date (read section 2.6 for agreement duration).

Annex 1: Terms and Conditions

See ³Ù³ó±ðÌýCapital grants agreements: Terms and Conditions 2026.

Annex 2 - Contact details

ContactÌýRural Payments Agency (RPA)

If you have any questions, contactÌýRPAÌý²ú²â:Ìý

• ±ð³¾²¹¾±±ô:Ìýruralpayments@defra.gov.ukÌý– include name of scheme and yourÌýSBI in the subject header
• telephone: 03000 200 301 - Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, except bank holidays
• post: PO Box 324, Worksop, S95 1DF

Contact the Forestry Commission

You can contact the Forestry Commission by email, phone or post.

Go toÌýcontact Forestry CommissionÌýfor more details.

Contact Natural EnglandÌý

You can contact Natural England by:

• ±ð³¾²¹¾±±ô: enquiries@naturalengland.org.ukÌý
• telephone: 0300 060 3900ÌýMarch to September: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, except bank holidaysÌýOctober to February: Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm, except bank holidaysÌýFind out about call chargesÌý
• post: Natural England, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP

Contact other organisations

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