Guidance

Tree health pilot scheme

Find out what grants are available under the tree health pilot (THP) scheme, if you’re eligible and how to apply.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

The tree health pilot (THP) scheme is testing different ways of slowing the spread of pests and diseases affecting trees in England.

It expands on support available through the Countryside Stewardship Woodland Tree Health grant.

There are grants available for:

  • larch trees with Phytophthora ramorum
  • spruce trees with or at risk of Ips typographus (eight-toothed spruce bark beetle)
  • sweet chestnut trees with Phytophthora ramorum or sweet chestnut blight
  • oak trees with oak processionary moth (OPM)
  • ash trees with ash dieback

Read the documents to check what the grants cover and who’s eligible to apply.

The pilot will help develop the future funding policy for tree health schemes.

Application forms

Updates to this page

Published 16 February 2024
Last updated 18 November 2024 + show all updates
  1. In the "Tree health pilot scheme: who can apply and what land is eligible" guidance we have added further detail under the "Check if your land is eligible" section. In the "Grants for larch, spruce and sweet chestnut" guidance we have added a line to advise you can only apply for grants to chemically kill trees with Phytophthora ramorum if agreed with the Forestry Commission.

  2. Updated section on who can apply for the tree health advice package: This grant is available to landowners with spruce trees in the proactive spruce removal zone for Ips typographus and landowners who have a SPHN for larch trees with Phytophthora ramorum, spruce trees with the Ips typographus (eight-toothed spruce bark beetle), sweet chestnut trees with Phytophthora ramorum or sweet chestnut blight.

  3. Updated guidance for oak processionary moth (OPM) grant, land registry searches are not covered by the grant.

  4. The tree health pilot scheme has been updated from September 2024

  5. Links added to page with map for ‘proactive spruce removal area’.

  6. Restocking maintenance payments changed from £350 per hectare each year for 5 years to £400. Also, 'What land is eligible' section updated in 'Who can apply and what land is eligible'. It now includes spruce with either a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) for eight-toothed spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) or that are growing in the high risk demarcated area.

  7. Grants for ash with ash dieback - payment rate has changed for trees in woodland: Maintenance (per year for 3 years) has changed from £350 to £400 per ha.

  8. First published.

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