Forestry Commission
About the Tree Production Capital Grant
The Tree Production Capital Grant (TPCG) provides funding to help tree nurseries and seed suppliers invest in projects which improve, expand, automate or mechanise their operations. This will help improve not only the quantity but also the quality, diversity, and biosecurity of supply.
The government aims to at least treble tree planting rates in England by 2025, and has set legally binding targets to increase tree and woodland cover to 16.5% of total land area by 2050. Meeting these planting targets domestically will require a corresponding increase in UK production of tree planting material. The TPCG is looking to support projects with outputs that will better equip nurseries to supply the trees required for new woodlands and urban planting projects. The grant forms part of the Governments Nature for Climate Fund.
As well as enhancing the quantity of trees produced, we need to enhance the quality and diversity of trees produced. This will enable us to plant resilient treescapes that support biodiversity and are resilient to stresses such as climate change and pests and diseases. This means facilitating the supply of diverse planting material from a range of species and provenances. Stocking material should be of the highest possible quality to reduce planting losses and ensure the delivery of healthy trees thriving in the landscape.
The fund enables suppliers to bolster production at pace and has been designed to complement the Tree Production Innovation Fund, which provides support for research projects that will enhance UK tree production methods.
The grant is open to tree seed and sapling suppliers of all sizes, as well as new entrants looking to diversify into the sector.
Sign up to our Tree Production Capital Grant webinar
Join our webinar: Tree Production Capital Grant How to Apply from 2:00 - 3:00pm on Friday 28 April 2023. During this session, applicants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the TPCG application and evaluation processes. If you would like to attend the Tree Production Capital Grant How to Apply webinar, please book your place at Eventbrite.
What is the deadline for applications?
The deadline for applications is 23:55 on 31 May 2023.
What funding is available?
Up to 5.1 million of funding is available through the Tree Production Capital Grant, subject to sufficient high-quality bids being received.
TheTPCGwill provide 50% funding for projects up to a maximum grant value of 175,000.
Example projects suitable for funding could include:
- investments in machinery such as transplanting systems and grading machines
- improved polytunnel infrastructure and irrigation systems
- biosecurity through improved water treatment and refrigeration equipment
Projects may span up to two financial years, completing no later than March 2025.
Funding will be split into two streams separating projects valued between 10,000 and 100,000 (Stream A), and those valued at greater than 100,000 (Stream B). Projects must have a minimum total cost of 10,000 to be eligible.
| Funding Stream | Project Value | Funding Available (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 10,000 to 100,000 | 5,000 to 50,000 |
| B | >100,000 | >50,000 to 175,000 |
Eligible costs that may be claimed for include:
- costs of equipment and machinery purchased
- delivery and shipping costs of items purchased
- personnel costs related to the construction or implementation of the items purchased at the applicants site of operation
The following expenditure is ineligible:
- retrospective funding for work already carried out or to be carried out before a grant agreement is signed
- maintenance costs of the items purchased
- any training required for staff to make use of the items purchased
- seed or saplings to be delivered as the outputs of the project proposal
- consumables, for example compost or fertiliser
Am I eligible?
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be UK-based and will need to demonstrate how the grant will be used to increase English tree seed or sapling supply.
The following groups are identified as likely potential applications to the TPCG:
- private sector nurseries and seed suppliers
- public sector organisations such as Local Authorities
- new entrants to forestry from adjacent horticultural/agricultural sectors
- environmental NGOs
- community tree nurseries
Forestry England and Forest Research are not eligible for funding under theTPCG.
How do I apply?
Detailed guidance on how to apply can be found in the Guidance to Applicants on theTree Production Capital Grant Application Form page.
Applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 31 May 2023.
A single stage application process will be followed. Applications must be written in English, using the forms on the [Tree Production Capital Grant Application Form]https://www.gov.uk/government/admin/publications/1436254) page (without alterations to layout or format), and submitted to tpcg@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
In the Application Form, you will be asked to provide details about:
- the project and the outputs expected
- how the project aligns with the scope of the grant and meets the aim to increase the quality,quantity, diversity and/or biosecurity of seed or sapling supply in England
- your approach to delivering the project and any delivery risks
- the cost of the project and how it represents value for money your organisation and for the taxpayer
All costs and financial details should be in Sterling. Applicants must detail the source of their match funding. Applicants submitting proposals spanning two financial years should state this on the application form and clearly outline the activities that will be delivered by the end of each financial year. The Forestry Commission do not have the ability to transfer funding between financial years so please consider the financial years in which you are applying for funding carefully, taking into account factors such as delivery time.
All questions in the application form are mandatory and you must submit a Finance Spreadsheet as part of your application. If any part of your application is incomplete, your application will be returned to you within three working days for you to revise and resubmit before the deadline should you wish. If any part of your application is unclear, the Forestry Commission may contact you at any time prior to informing you of a funding decision to request further information. If you wish to amend your application before the published deadline or withdraw your application at any time, please email:tpcg@forestrycommission.gov.uk
If you consider the information contained within your application to be commercially sensitive, you must notify the Forestry Commission of this when submitting your application.
Applicants may submit no more than one bid to the TPCG annually.
The Forestry Commission reserves the right to change the deadline for applications or make changes to the Invitation to Apply and the application process at short notice. The Forestry Commission reserves the right to amend, add to or withdraw all or any part of the funding application process at any time during the process. All changes are recorded at the bottom of this page (click show all updates) and where these are made following the opening date the lead applicant for all applications already received will be contacted directly by email. Material changes (for example to the closing date or eligibility rules) will also be communicated via the Forestry Commissions Grants and Regulations eAlert.
If you wish to clarify any application requirements or the application process, please emailtpcg@forestrycommission.gov.uk. We will aim to respond to all re