Trees and Hedges that Work: Unlocking Funding and Resilience

Tree and hedge planting can play a key role in boosting farm resilience, biodiversity, and carbon capture - but many schemes are complex, competitive, and time-limited.

The Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods and MOREhedges initiatives offer a flexible, accessible route for farmers not already funded through other programmes. These types of schemes help to improve shelter, diversify habitats, and reduce runoff. Here’s how they work, when they make sense, and what to consider before applying. 

MOREwoods: Creating New Woodlands

The MOREwoods scheme focuses on helping landowners establish new woodlands by planting 0.5 hectares or more at 1000-1600 trees per hectare. This initiative is tailored to suit the specific needs of farmers, offering bespoke woodland designs and species mixes that align with their land use goals. The Woodland Trust covers up to 75% of the costs, making it an accessible option for those looking to integrate trees into their agricultural landscapes.

Trees planted under the MOREwoods scheme provide a range of benefits. They create habitats for wildlife, improve soil health, and act as natural windbreaks, enhancing the overall productivity and resilience of farmland. Additionally, these woodlands contribute to carbon sequestration, playing a crucial role in Scotland's efforts to achieve net-zero emissions.

MOREwoods requires a minimum of 0.5ha (which can be made up of 0.1ha blocks), planted at 1000–1600 trees per hectare. It’s great for creating new habitat or natural buffers in livestock systems—but not suitable for restocking or planting on recently felled land.

MOREhedges: Enhancing Connectivity and Biodiversity

The MOREhedges scheme complements MOREwoods by focusing on the creation of new hedgerows. To qualify, landowners must plant at least 100 metres of hedging, with a large tree included every six metres. The scheme aims to establish ecological links between woodlands, fostering biodiversity and creating corridors for wildlife.

Hedgerows are invaluable features in agricultural landscapes. They provide shelter for livestock, reduce soil erosion, and improve water quality by filtering runoff. Moreover, they capture carbon and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the countryside. The Woodland Trust supports these projects by covering up to 75% of the costs, ensuring that farmers can implement these changes without significant financial burden.

Both schemes also support wider land management aims - from water retention and erosion control to carbon capture and pollinator support.

When It Might Not Be Right

If your goal is timber production, species diversification within mature woodland, or long-term management funding, the Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) might be more suitable. SAC Consulting can help you weigh your options based on land type, objectives, and budget.

Top Tips

• Planting trees has many benefits for the land, livestock, wildlife – and for business. 
• Creating new hedges to link existing areas of woodland and scrub will maximise their benefits as habitat corridors.
• The MOREhedges scheme is not available for gapping up or replanting existing hedges, planting along existing tree lines or within or around the edge of woodland.
• Refer to Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) website where you will find quick guides matching tree species to site.

For more information about the MOREwoods  and MOREhedges schemes visit the Woodland Trust’s website.

Useful Links

• fas.scot/downloads/practical-guide-agroforestry-for-beef-and-sheep-farmers
• fas.scot/downloads/technical-note-tn738-hedges-carbon-conservation-compliance

Emma Gordon, Consultant, Emma.Gordon@sac.co.uk

Unearthed is the exclusive SAC Consulting members' monthly newsletter. Unearthed offers insights and tips from our experts on what we think is in store for farming and crofting in the coming months in order to protect and enhance your business.

Posted by Unearthed News on 13/05/2025