Free tree-planting advice and grant aid for farmers

Across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the Severn Treescapes project is supporting farmers to unlock the potential of their land, by planting trees that will bring multiple benefits.

To date the project has worked with over 170 landowners to help them to gain access to funding to plant trees on their land.

We have a team of advisors in each of the counties who can arrange a bespoke one-to-one visit, to discuss what is best for each site.

The benefits for farmers are wide-ranging and well understood:

• Improving soil health and retaining soil
• Shelterbelts that create microclimates to benefit crops or livestock
• Hedges and in-field trees for livestock shade and browsing
• Timber, fruit or nut production to diversify income or use on farms
• Flood resilience and reducing field and farmyard run-off for cleaner rivers
• Thriving wildlife habitats

Tree-planting for timber

One project in Worcestershire helped the landowners plant woodland for future timber alongside some natural regeneration of surrounding woodland.

This was an exciting project for Laurence to get involved with, and he was able to create a plan based on the landowners’ visions.

“Laurence has talked through, and listened patiently, and has been a calm and wise advisor throughout. 

“We appreciate that we have been able to plant and protect the new woodland to a very high standard, and we look forward to managing it, to do it the justice that Laurence’s input and effort and the Severn Treescapes project deserve.”

Find out more about this project below:

Our orchard inspiration

The very first person to contact the Treescapes project introduced a planting opportunity in Gloucestershire.

Over two volunteer days and a workshop teaching landowners how to plan out and plant an orchard, we replanted a hedgerow, added some in-field trees to one grazing pasture and replanted an orchard into another.

Charlotte was able to secure funding for the trees, whips and  guards, and suitable fencing for the trees.

The restoration of the orchard, although exciting, led to some trepidation from the landowner as it was not something that she had managed before.

She inspired us to find extra funding to offer orchard workshops to similar landowners. We’ve since hosted 17 free to attend workshops helping people plan, plant, prune, graft, juice and make jams.

These workshops are set to start their third successful season later this year.

Transforming marginal land

Some livestock farmers in Worcestershire were looking for advice on a particularly small, wet field that they didn’t have much use for.

After getting some funding for hedgerows, the landowners reached out again for additional support regarding this field.

It will transform a boggy piece of grass to become full of bird and insect life and give shade to livestock on the other side of the fence. 

None of this recent planting would have taken place had it not been for Charlotte and Simone. 

“We will always be grateful for the way that they enabled this Treescapes development to take place. 

“Both have given us time, patience, enthusiasm and insight in their suggestions, and have provided practical support throughout. 

“They have followed up on our requests for particular tree and hedge species, and organised and delivered these and the stakes and guards, providing a planting plan which they discussed with us.

“In all this they have been professional, excellent communicators, and a positive force enabling the project to be completed quickly. 

“We have thoroughly enjoyed being part of this exciting project and are totally delighted by the result.”

Woodland tree-planting

A more traditional woodland creation project on the edge of the Wyre Forest was completed in 2024, on land that was no longer productive for the landowners’ needs. Hear more about the project in the video below:

The Severn Treescapes team are working to help with agroforestry plans, hedgerow planting, orchard restoration and creation.

We want to be there to support you integrate trees into your land in a productive and pragmatic manner, and find the funding for this.

It could be using unproductive land to add some trees – perhaps awkward field corners or areas close to watercourses, where trees or natural regeneration might intercept run-off.

How to get involved

If you’re interested in finding out whether the project could benefit your farm, it’s as simple as sending an email or picking up the phone.

A project advisor will pay you a visit and put together a plan based on your ambitions for your land.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you to demonstrate that nature and farming are complementary and not mutually exclusive.

Will Masefield, Project Manager

will.masefield@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk

07793 307056