Unlocking New Opportunities: Capital Grants for Establishing Agroforestry Systems
The government has announced a new suite of grants aimed at supporting the establishment of agroforestry systems across England. These grants, offered by the Forestry Commission, are designed to help farmers and land managers integrate agroforestry into their existing practices, ultimately enhancing productivity, biodiversity, and sustainability.
What New Funding is Available for Agroforestry?
One of the key components of this new funding is the PA4: Agroforestry Plan, a funded capital item that assists in planning, creating, improving, and managing agroforestry systems. This plan adopts a whole farm approach, considering how agroforestry fits within the context of your landholding, current land management practices, and the local landscape.
The Agroforestry Plan will:
Help assess if agroforestry is right for your land.
Outline how agroforestry aligns with your business objectives and contributes to biodiversity outcomes.
Provide flexibility tailored to your individual circumstances, allowing you to explore what is best for you, your business, and your land.
Once you complete the plan and decide to implement agroforestry, specific capital items will be available for planting trees and creating new agroforestry systems, along with annual revenue grants to help maintain and manage your new setup.
Financial Support Overview
Here’s a summary of the grants available:
Capital Grants
PA4 Agroforestry Plan: £1,268.08 per plan.
AF1: Plant an agroforestry woodland tree: £5.40 per tree.
AF2: Plant an agroforestry fruit tree: £17.83 per tree.
AF3: Supplement for species diversity bonus (supporting at least 5 species in an agroforestry system): £1.16 per tree.
You can use the Countryside Stewardship grant finder tool to explore these options further.
Revenue Grants
AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (30 to 50 trees per hectare): £248 per year for 3 years (renewable at the end of the contract).
AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (51 to 130 trees per hectare): £385 per year for 3 years (renewable at the end of the contract).
Our new subsidy calculator can help you understand the different funding options that are now available for your project
Conclusion
The introduction of these new capital grants marks an exciting opportunity for farmers and land managers to explore agroforestry as a means of enhancing productivity and sustainability on their land. By leveraging the resources and support available, you can create a more resilient agricultural system while contributing to biodiversity and environmental health.
For more information on how to access these grants and start your agroforestry journey, use our subsidy calculator, look on the Rural Payment Agency grants finder or get in touch with us!