What to Check Before Planting Trees on Your Land in the UK

Published: 10 April 2025

Planting trees is one of the most popular land use changes across the UK right now—driven by climate goals, biodiversity targets, and funding from schemes like EWCO. But before you order saplings or map out woodland blocks, it’s essential to pause and ask:

What do I need to check before planting trees on my land?

Because not every field, slope, or corner is suitable for tree planting—and overlooking key constraints could delay your project, cost you funding, or trigger legal issues.

Why checks matter before you plant

Tree planting might seem like a low-risk, nature-friendly action, but if it’s done without understanding your land’s sensitivities, it can cause more harm than good—or get blocked by regulators.

We’ve seen landowners plant over protected habitats, historic features, or flood-prone areas without realising—leading to project redesigns, grant refusals, and costly setbacks.

That’s why checking your land before you plant trees isn’t just good practice. In many cases, it’s required.

What to check before planting trees in the UK

Before you move ahead with any woodland creation or large-scale planting, here’s what you should investigate:

• Existing habitats and biodiversity value – Is the field already home to species-rich grassland or a priority habitat? Tree planting in these areas can be damaging—and may make you ineligible for grants like EWCO or BNG unit sales.
• Historic and archaeological features – Trees and roots can damage buried remains. If your land contains Scheduled Monuments, ancient field systems, or ridge and furrow, planting may be restricted—or completely ruled out.
• Flood risk and drainage – Low-lying or wetland areas might seem like ideal woodland corners, but poor drainage or seasonal flooding can undermine establishment and reduce habitat value.
• Protected species and designations – Are there records of great crested newts, bats, or nesting birds? Are you near a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)? Planting near sensitive habitats could require additional surveys or consents.
• Access, fencing, and buffer zones – You’ll need to factor in how you’ll establish, maintain, and protect new planting. Some planting designs fall short because they don’t leave enough space for practical management.

All of these factors affect not just whether you can plant trees—but whether your application for grants or planning consent will be accepted.

How to gather this information

You can start with free tools like MAGIC Map, Land Information Search, and your local authority’s heritage records. But the data can be fragmented and tricky to interpret—especially if you're working across several fields or farm units.

AskGrant makes it simpler

At AskGrant, we take the guesswork out of planting preparation. Our Land Baseline Reports combine habitat mapping, sensitivity checks, and eligibility advice—giving you a clear picture of what you can safely plant, where, and how to make it fundable.

Whether you’re planning your first woodland block or restoring field corners, we help you avoid costly mistakes and move forward with confidence.

Because tree planting should feel like a smart step—not a leap in the dark.

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