MOREwoods and MOREhedges: Subsidised Trees Still Need the Right Protection

Not every planting grant comes from the government. The Woodland Trust runs two schemes of its own for landowners and farmers, MOREwoods for new woodland and MOREhedges for new hedges, and both cover a large share of the cost along with practical help.

MOREwoods

MOREwoods ↗ is for planting 500 or more trees on at least half a hectare, at around 1,000 to 1,600 trees per hectare. The Trust visits the site, helps design the woodland, puts together a species mix, supplies the trees and tree protection, and covers up to 75% of the cost.

MOREhedges

MOREhedges ↗ supports new hedges of 100 metres or more, as long as a large tree is allowed to grow every six metres along it. It supplies saplings and advice and covers up to 75% of the cost. Applications reopened in March 2026, so check the Woodland Trust's site for the current window.

The protection question

Both schemes include tree protection, but the right protection depends on what's browsing the land. Rabbits need guards of around 0.6 metres and hares 0.75, while roe and muntjac need at least 1.2 metres and fallow 1.5. Protection sized for rabbits will do nothing against roe, and the trees will be browsed over the top within a season or two. That's the problem covered in our piece on tree guard height.

Guards or a fence

For a hedge, individual guards are usually the only practical option. For a new wood, past a certain size it can be cheaper and more effective to fence the whole block, which changes what you'd want the protection budget spent on. It's worth settling that before the order goes in, not after, and it's the same choice set out in fencing, guards, or culling.

Other funding to compare

In North, West, and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, Trees for Climate can cover up to 100% of planting costs, and for larger schemes the England Woodland Creation Offer is worth a look. Whichever route you take, knowing which deer are using the land first is what makes the protection work. A Deer Number Survey & Impact Assessment is free and tells you.