Tree planting and woodland creation resources
Source: gov.uk (2025-05-21)

Get information to help you plan, fund, plant and manage woodland in England, including resources on site preparation and tree protection to long-term management.

These resources cover the woodland creation process from planning and funding to managing your woodland. They include guidance from the Forestry Commission and other industry experts.

Getting started with woodland creation

Creating woodland brings many benefits to the environment, wildlife and communities. Before you start planting, read our Tree planting and woodland creation: overview (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-planting-and-woodland-creation-overview) for an introduction.

Planning your woodland
- A guide to planning new woodland in England (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-planning-new-woodland-in-england) – this guide supports anyone who wants to plan, design and create new woodland in England
- Creating a woodland: planning and design (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/managing-trees-and-woods/woodland-planning-and-design/) – a Woodland Trust guide on growing a woodland from scratch
Funding for woodland creation
- Woodland Creation Planning Grant (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/woodland-creation-planning-grant) – find out how to apply for the Woodland Creation Planning Grant to support the development of a woodland creation plan
- England Woodland Creation Offer (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/england-woodland-creation-offer) – get support to plant and establish woodland using the England Woodland Creation Offer
- England Woodland Creation Partnerships grants and advice (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-woodland-creation-partnerships-grants-and-advice-table) – an overview of partner grants, incentives and support available for woodland creation
Preparing for planting

How you prepare your site and source your trees is crucial to the long-term health and success of your woodland.

Site preparation
- Soil cultivation requirements (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-cultivation-and-ukfs-compliance-for-application-in-england-operations-note-53/guidance-on-cultivation-and-ukfs-compliance-for-application-in-england-operations-note-53) – guidance on cultivation to help meet the requirements of the UK Forestry Standard
- Preparing your site for tree planting (https://treecouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Site-Preparation.pdf) – guidance from The Tree Council on essential ground preparation considerations, the use of contractors and equipment hire
- The art of ground preparation (https://treestory.org.uk/sustainable-ground-preparation/) – learn about the different types of site preparation and how to minimise ground preparation for maximum benefit for newly planted trees
- Planning access roads and tracks (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/roads-and-tracks-operations-note-25) – how to plan and access tracks and surfaced haulage roads in woodland, and the minimum appropriate standards for construction, repair and maintenance
- Online courses on ground preparation for woodland creation (https://www.cumbriawoodlands.co.uk/working-with-partners/training-and-development/ground-preparation-for-woodland-creation/) – a comprehensive online course for specifiers, regulators, contract managers and contractors wanting to plant trees, provided by Cumbria Woodlands and funded by the Forestry Commission
Sourcing biosecure trees
- Forestry nursery Directory (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forestry-nursery-directory) – a list of forest nurseries in Great Britain with contact information, nursery size and a short description of each nursery
- Plant Healthy (https://planthealthy.org.uk/) - Plant Healthy aims to help professionals grow and supply healthy plants. Meeting the Plant Health Management Standard will make sure our green spaces are better protected from pests and diseases
- Tree species database (https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/tree-species-database/) – Forest Research’s searchable online database with information on over 60 tree species that are widely grown in British forests, or which could play an increasing role in future woodland creation
Planting your trees

The tree planting season typically runs from November to March when trees are dormant, these resources will tell you more about how to plant and set your woodland up for success:
- Planting a woodland (https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/biomass-energy-resources/fuel/woodfuel-production-and-supply/woodfuel-production/forestry-for-woodfuel-and-timber/planting-woodland) – a brief guide from Forest Research on woodland planting, including site preparation, choosing a species, when to plant and tree aftercare
- How to plant a tree (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/advice/how-to-plant) – a guide on pit planting, slit planting and T-notch planting from the Woodland Trust
- Tree care tips: heeling in (https://www.tcv.org.uk/media_hub/tree-care-tips/) – from The Conservation Volunteers tree companion care series to ensure young trees have the best chances of survival
- Comprehensive tree planting guides (#comprehensive) a list of more in-depth guides on tree planting
Protecting your trees

Implementing effective protection strategies against wildlife, weeds, pests and diseases is essential to the healthy development of your young trees.

Tree protection: weeds and mammals
- Tree protection: the use of tree shelters and guards (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-protection-the-use-of-tree-shelters-and-guards) – learn about the most appropriate forms of tree protection for use in woodland creation
- How to look after newly planted trees (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/maintain-new-trees-after-restocking#how-to-look-after-newly-planted-trees) – learn about caring for trees in their first 5 years
- Tree protection: risks and opportunities (https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/17/tree-protection-thinking-about-risks-and-opportunities/) – read about the risk of damage to trees by mammals in the early years of establishment and your options for protection. There are links to advice and funding relevant to the scale of your project
- Grey squirrel and deer damage to trees (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64f1c257fdc5d1000d2849a5/WMM_grey_squirrel_deer_damage_visual_guide_Aug_23_1.pdf) – a visual guide by the Forestry Commission
If you’re using tree guards there is a scheme for recycling your forestry and arboreal plastic waste (https://www.agricycle.co.uk/recycling-services/forestry-and-arboreal-plastic-waste/).

Tree protection: pests and diseases
- Managing tree pests and diseases (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-summary-guide-to-managing-tree-pests-and-diseases) – a visual guide by the Forestry Commission on implementing good biosecurity to protect trees and woodland
- Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service (https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/services/tree-health-diagnostic-and-advisory-service/) – by Forest Research provides advice, and where possible diagnosis and identification, of tree pests and pathogens
- Pests and diseases posters by Observatree (https://www.observatree.org.uk/resource-library/posters/) – a resource library of tree pests and diseases in the UK, you can also browse their website for other pest and disease resources
Tree aftercare and management

Care during establishment is critical for woodland success, while ongoing management ensures your woodland remains healthy and resilient. Following best practice for both will help you achieve your woodland objectives.

Caring for trees in their first few years
- How to care for your trees (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/advice/care/) – a guide from the Woodland Trust on how to care for your trees in the first few years
- Managing and caring for trees (https://treecouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/TCHandbook_5_Care.pdf) – The Tree Council’s guide to aftercare for young trees
- Tree care tips: caring for new trees (https://www.tcv.org.uk/media_hub/tree-care-tips-2-how-to-care-for-new-trees/) – from The Conservation Volunteers tree companion care series to ensure young trees have the best chances of survival
- Eight care tips for young trees (https://treecouncil.org.uk/8-tree-care-tips-for-young-trees/) – simple tree care tips to keep your young trees in excellent health
- Young tree aftercare (https://www.trees.org.uk/Trees.org.uk/media/Trees-org.uk/Documents/Tree%20Aftercare/Young-Tree-Aftercare-A3-web.pdf) – a one-page overview from the Arboricultural Association on aftercare for young trees
- Help young trees survive prolonged hot dry weather (https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2025/05/19/how-to-help-young-trees-survive-prolonged-hot-dry-weather/) – the Forestry Commission looks at the effects of prolonged hot and dry weather on trees and what you can do to help them survive
- Watering newly planted trees and shrubs (https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/watering-newly-planted-trees-and-shrubs) – covers watering aspects of aftercare in detail
Managing and maintaining trees and woodland
- How to manage your woodland (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/how-to-manage-your-woodland) – a collection of our resources on managing your woodland to help ensure its future health and resilience to climate change, pests and diseases
- Managing trees after 10 years (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/maintain-new-trees-after-restocking#managing-trees-after-10-years) – find out how to look after your established trees
- Managing woodlands in a climate emergency (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-englands-woodlands-in-a-climate-emergency) – a guide to help foresters implement adaptation actions
- Managing your new woodland (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/managing-trees-and-woods/managing-your-woodland/) - learn about the observations and actions needed to maintain your trees from the Woodland Trust
- Woodland Management Planning course (https://lms.cumbriawoodlands.co.uk/courses/course-v1:CumbriaWoodlands+CW013+2024/about) – a free course from Cumbria Woodlands, supported by the Forestry Commission
- Woods into Management introductory course (https://lms.cumbriawoodlands.co.uk/courses/course-v1:CumbriaWoodlands+CW002+2022/about) – a free course from Cumbria Woodlands, supported by the Forestry Commission
- So you own a woodland? (https://rfs.org.uk/learning/newtoforestry/so-you-own-a-woodland/) – A Royal Forestry Society introductory guide to woodland management
Further resources

These comprehensive resources take you through a more in-depth guide to planting trees:
- Woodland creation guide (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/woodland-creation-guide/) – outlines the chronological process for delivering woodland creation projects at any scale, created by the Woodland Trust
- Tree planting guide (https://treecouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Tree-planting-guide-2019-updates_1.pdf) – a guide by The Tree Council that outlines the main points to consider for tree planting from choosing a planting site and planting techniques, to methods of tree protection
- Guidance hub (https://treecouncil.org.uk/grants-and-guidance/guidance-hub/) – The Tree Council’s practical resources for growing, planting, managing and monitoring trees and treescapes across the UK
This page contains resources and guides from external organisations. The Forestry Commission has included these resources to support woodland creation but does not endorse or take responsibility for the content or views within these external publications.