Tree planting
LincWoods is our tree planting project. Lincolnshire has one of the lowest tree cover rates in the UK at just under 4% - compared to a national tree coverage rate of 13%. We are looking to work with landowners, farmers, businesses, parish councils and communities of Lincolnshire to support the planting of new:
- woodlands
- orchards
- hedgerows
- individual trees
We can offer free help and advice on tree species, protection, management, funding and grant options available on a site-specific basis. We are in partnership with Forestry Commission and the Woodland Trust, aiming to deliver as much appropriate planting as possible.
If you are planting a single tree in your back garden or planting hundreds of trees around a farm, you can register the trees using the tree planting form. They will all be counted towards the countywide tree planting ambition. You can play a part, whatever the size of your planting project. The map shows where all of the trees registered so far have been planted.
Together, we can benefit wildlife and local landscape and help to tackle climate change by planting the right trees, in the right places, for the right reasons.
There are grants available depending on the type of tree you are planting, including woodlands, orchards and hedgerows.
For further information please email us at LincWoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
Woodland
If you would like to plant a woodland and have a minimum area of 0.1 hectares available (capable of taking 200 trees or more), you can submit an application here.
Once you have submitted your application, we will be able to advise you on woodland creation, management and also the funding options best suited to your site. We are working in partnership with both the Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission.
As part of the LincWoods project strategy to increase tree planting, we may be able to offer free native planting schemes to:
- parish councils
- voluntary groups
- private landowners
- farmers around the county
Applications for trees in private gardens will not be accepted. Applicants must be able to plant the trees between November 2025 and March 2026 and agree to keep the area around the tree weed free for three years and not remove the trees for 25 years.
All schemes will be scored according to their wildlife and landscape benefit and proposed maintenance. Should more applications be received than our funding allows, only the highest scoring schemes will be awarded trees.
Please submit your application before 1 December 2025.
Apply for a tree planting grant
Orchards
Community Orchard Project
Between October 2023 and March 2025 we created over 30 community orchards across the county with funding from Defra's Coronation Living Heritage Fund.
The Community Orchard Project continues in partnership with the Lincolnshire Co-Op for the creation of a further 10 new community orchards in the county.
We are looking for applications for community orchard creation from schools, parish councils, voluntary groups and charities in the following areas of Lincolnshire:
- Coningsby
- Holton Le Clay
- Branston
- North Hykeham
- Dunholme
- Central Gainsborough
A community orchard can be on either private or public land if there is a clear community benefit for the orchard, such as, the community involved in planting and maintaining the orchard, or the community has access to the orchard on a permanent basis.
The minimum number of trees that will be considered and can class as an orchard is 5 and the maximum number of trees we can offer is 20. However, the number and type of trees must be appropriate for the site. An LCC Woodland Creation Officer will offer a site visit to applicants and be able to aid with planting design.
Applicants must be able to plant the fruit trees between December 2025 and March 2026 and agree to keep the areas around the trees weed free for three years and not remove the trees for 15 years.
All schemes will be scored according to their benefit to the local community. Should more applications be received than our funding allows, only the highest scoring schemes will be awarded trees.
Please submit your application before 1 December 2025.
Apply for the Community Orchard Grant
Hedgerows
Hedgerows offer numerous benefits, including improving landscape aesthetics and air quality, reducing soil erosion and flooding, enhancing biodiversity, and providing shelter for livestock.
If you would like to plant a new native species hedgerow, you can submit an application.
Once you have submitted your application, we will be able to advise you on hedgerow planting, species mix, management and also the funding options best suited to your site. We are working in partnership with the Woodland Trust.
As part of the LincWoods project strategy to extend the network of hedgerows across Lincolnshire, we may be able to offer free native hedgerow planting schemes to:
- parish councils
- voluntary groups
- private landowners
- farmers around the county
Applications for hedgerows in private gardens will not be accepted. Applicants must be able to plant the hedging between November 2025 and March 2026 and agree to keep the area around the hedging plants weed free for three years and not remove the hedgerow for 25 years.
We will only be offering small sized hedge plants up to a maximum height of 60 to 90 centimetres with the appropriate protection.
All schemes will be scored according to their wildlife and landscape benefits and proposed maintenance. Should more applications be received than our funding allows, only the highest scoring schemes will be awarded trees.
Please submit your application before 1 December 2025.