Forestry Commission
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This page tells you about grants and other funding currently open or opening soon.
You may be able to apply for one or more of the available grants and funding schemes if you or your land are eligible. The guidance for each scheme will explain where this is possible.
Manage your land to benefit the environment
Apply through an environmental land management (ELM) scheme to farm productively and in a way that benefits the environment. There are 3 ELM schemes and supporting capital items.
1. Sustainable Farming Incentive
Grant value: variable payment rates depending on the action.
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)scheme pays farmers and land managers to take up or maintain sustainable farming and land management practices that:
- protect and benefit the environment
- support food production
- improve productivity
These practices are referred to as SFI actions.
If you and your land are eligible, you can apply for up to 102 SFI actions in the expanded SFI offer for 2024.
SFI agreements usually last for 3 or 5 years, depending on which SFI actions you select.
Read the SFI scheme information to apply for an SFI agreement and use the Find funding for land or farms tool to search for actions you and your land are eligible to apply for.
2. Countryside Stewardship (CS)
Grant value: amounts vary depending on your CS agreement.
Closing date: some grants are open all year, others are time-limited read the CS guidance for details.
You can apply for Countryside Stewardship to get paid to:
- increase biodiversity
- improve habitat
- expand woodland areas
- improve water quality
- improve air quality
- improve natural flood management
Use the CS grant finder to see whats available to achieve these environmental outcomes.
3. Landscape Recovery
Closing date: the scheme is now closed.
Landscape Recovery pays groups of farmers and land managers to do long-term, large-scale projects together. Land must be in England and consist of at least 500 connected hectares.
The Landscape Recovery scheme supports:
- net zero carbon emissions
- protected sites
- wildlife-rich habitat
Capital items
You can get paid for capital items to help you carry out management actions.
See Capital items: guidance for applicants and agreement holders for more information.
Invest in equipment, technology and infrastructure to increase productivity
You can apply for grants through the Farming Investment Fund (FIF) to invest in new technology, equipment and infrastructure.
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF)
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) has 3 grants to help you buy items to:
- improve productivity
- manage slurry
- improve animal health and welfare
Grant value: up to50,000 towards productivity and slurry items and up to 25,000 towards animal health and welfare items.
Closing date: now closed
Water Management grant (round 2)
Grant value: between 35,000 and 500,000.
Closing date: invited applicants have until 11.59pm on 31 October 2024 to submit their full application.
Read the guidance for Water Management round 2 applicants.
Slurry Infrastructure grant (round 2)
Grant value: between 25,000 and 250,000.
Closing date: invited applicants have until 11:59pm on 30 September 2024 to submit their full application.
Read the guidance for Slurry Infrastructure round 2 applicants.
Adding Value grant
Grant value: between 25,000 and 300,000.
Closing date: now closed.
The Adding Value grant is closed.
Improving Farm Productivity grant (round 2)
Grant value:
between 25,000 and 500,000 for robotic or automatic equipment.
between 15,000 and 100,000 for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Closing date: invited applicants have until 11.59pm on 31 July 2025 to submit their full application.
Read the guidance for Improving Farm Productivity round 2 applicants.
Improve water quality and air quality
CS offers
You can apply for grants to improve water and air quality through CS. Check the CS grant finder for water quality options and air quality options. You can choose grants suitable for your land and apply to the relevant CS grant scheme.
Grant value: amounts vary depending on your CS agreement.
Closing date: some grants are open all year, others are time-limited - read the CS guidance for details.
Reduce flood risk
You can apply for grants to reduce flood risk through CS. Check the CS grant finder for natural flood management options. You can choose grants suitable for your land and apply to the relevant CS grant scheme.
Grant value: amounts vary depending on your CS agreement.
Closing date: some grants are open all year, others are time-limited - read the CS guidance for details.
Protect species and habitats and support biodiversity
You can apply for grants to protect species and habitats and support biodiversity through CS. Check the CS grant finder for: