Funding for landowners: How to unlock grants

Updated on the 11th of February 2025

If there’s one thing that unites landowners across England, it’s that managing land isn’t cheap. Fencing needs fixing, fields need maintaining, and let’s not even start on the cost of tree planting. But here’s the good news—there’s money out there to help you.

From government grants to biodiversity payments and woodland creation schemes, there’s a vast pot of funding available for landowners. The challenge? Finding the right grant without drowning in paperwork.

Let’s break it down—what’s out there, how you can apply, and why you shouldn’t leave money on the table.

What kind of funding is available for landowners?

Government-backed schemes, private biodiversity incentives, and market-driven payments all offer landowners financial support for making improvements to their land. Whether you manage farmland, woodland, or a country estate, there’s likely a grant that fits your goals.

Grants for sustainable farming and land management

• Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): Pays landowners to improve soil health, reduce chemical inputs, and manage low-input grasslands.
• Countryside Stewardship (CS): Funds hedgerow planting, wildflower meadows, and species-rich grasslands to boost biodiversity.
• Higher Tier Capital Grants: Supports large-scale conservation and habitat restoration projects.

Funding for woodland creation and tree management

• England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO): Pays for tree planting, infrastructure, and long-term maintenance.
• Woodland Tree Health Grants: Helps landowners manage diseased trees and replant with resilient species.
• Woodland Management Plan Grants: Covers costs for creating a long-term woodland management strategy.

Biodiversity and nature-based funding

• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): Pays landowners to improve biodiversity on their land as part of new development requirements.
• Pollinator habitat grants: Rewards farmers and estate owners for planting wildflower strips and hedgerows to support bees and other pollinators.
• Carbon Credits and Nature Markets: Offers private-sector funding for planting trees and restoring habitats that store carbon.

Infrastructure and land improvement grants

• Protection and Infrastructure Grants: Covers fencing, watercourse protection, and land restoration projects.
• Capital Grants for Boundaries, Trees, and Orchards: Funds traditional boundary restoration, orchard planting, and hedgerow improvements.

How to apply for landowner funding

Applying for grants isn’t as painful as filling out a tax return, but it does require some planning. The key is to know what’s available, match it to your land, and get the paperwork right.

1. Assess your land’s potential – Walk your land, take stock, and think about improvements that could qualify for funding.
2. Find the right grant – Some schemes support habitat creation, others reward low-input farming—knowing where your land fits is crucial.
3. Prepare your application – Many grants require maps, management plans, or evidence of biodiversity benefits. The more prepared you are, the smoother the process.
4. Submit on time – Deadlines matter. Some funding is first-come, first-served, and the best-funded projects get ahead.

Skip the research—let AskGrant do the hard work

The biggest barrier to securing funding? Finding the right grant without spending hours combing through government websites and deciphering complex eligibility criteria.

That’s where AskGrant comes in. Think of it as your personal grant assistant—scanning through all available funding options and matching them to your land, goals, and eligibility in just minutes.‍

1. Find the right grants without the headache
2. Save hours of research and paperwork
3. Get clear, tailored funding advice specific to your land

There’s funding out there, but it won’t land in your lap. Sign up for AskGrant today and take the easy route to securing the best grants for your land.

👉 Sign up now and turn your land’s potential into financial opportunities.

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