National Tree Week traditionally marks the start of another exciting planting season across Northern Ireland. As always, IndiWoods is buzzing behind the scenes as the first trees are lifted in preparation for planting.
The IndiWoods team are preparing tree orders, finalising woodland designs, and supporting landowners with grant offers, who are ready to create new woodlands on their land. With another busy season ahead, IndiWoods are incredibly fortunate to help create more beautiful woodlands right across the country.
Northern Ireland continues to face a critical challenge. Currently sitting at around 8% woodland cover, we remain the least wooded country in Europe (compared to 13% in Britain). On a positive note, we are committed to increasing our woodland cover as part of the Climate Action Plan, which calls for a clear push for woodland expansion throughout Northern Ireland to work towards net zero by 2030.
With woodland targets aiming to increase our woodland cover to 12% by 2050, the Forest Service Forest Expansion Scheme and the Small Woodland Grant scheme will help achieve this, with targets to plant over 18 million trees across over 9,000 ha by 2030.
So, anyone considering planting woodland on their land, this is the time to start.
Small Woodland Grant Scheme
The Small Woodland Grant Scheme is for the creation of native woodland, with the minimum area of 0.2 ha with no upper limit. There is a set grant to help establish the woodland and an annual income of £350 per ha for agri land for 10 years. This is in addition to Single Farm Payment (or future equivalent) and is really easy to apply. All you need is access to your DAERA Gov Gateway portal and the process is simple.
National Tree Week, Focusing On Woodland Benefits?
Whether you are planting trees for practical reasons such as making better use of steep, stony or wet land, creating bio security buffers from neighbouring stock, improving and protecting your soils, providing screening and shelter from wind or sun or simply creating a wildlife haven full of pollinators, the list is endless. In addition to this, you will be enhancing our countryside, providing a source of timber, filtering our air by storing carbon and creating long term woodlands throughout NI.
IndiWoods Tree Shop – Supporting your 2025 planting plans
Launched in 2021, the IndiWoods Tree Shop continues to grow and support landowners across NI. The online shop is friendly, easy to use, and ideal for anyone purchasing native trees, hedging and tree guards for their FES, SWGS or Farming with Nature projects.
We offer small bundles that make projects affordable, flexible, and perfectly tailored to the size and needs of your woodland. With trees starting from 55p + VAT, it’s an excellent way to make your grant funding stretch further.
Working closely with trusted Irish tree nurseries, IndiWoods supplies a full range of Irish-grown native species, including: oak, birch, alder, hazel, wild cherry, crab apple, rowan, willow, Scots pine, hawthorn, and blackthorn. All tree guards supplied can be removed and recycled once the trees are established.
Why We Plant?
IndiWoods is passionate about what we do and we love our job. We get to meet amazing people who are like-minded and want to plant trees on their land. Every woodland is unique and has its own story. That’s the magic behind creating your own woodland
The Forest Service grants give landowners the financial support to make these benefits achievable. IndiWoods is here to help every step of the way.
Advice and Support
Carolyn Trimble, Director of IndiWoods, is available to help with grant applications, woodland design, planting, and aftercare. Whether you’re planning your first woodland or expanding an existing one, National Tree Week is the perfect time to get started.