The following rural grant schemes are currently open for applications in Wales, providing farmers and land managers with opportunities to support sustainable land management and access financial assistance. These include the Growing for the Environment (Autumn Cover Crops) scheme, the Small Grants – Environment (Water) scheme, and the Small Grants – Woodland Creation scheme, each with defined objectives, eligibility requirements, and application deadlines.
Growing For the Environment (Autumn Cover Crops)
The Growing for the Environment (Autumn Cover Crops) EOI window opened on the 2nd of June and will close on 11th July. The indicative budget allocation for this application window is £350,000.
This scheme supports farmers in Wales who wish to grow cover crops following the harvest of cereals or maize. The scheme aims to improve the environmental performance of farms by encouraging the establishment of unsprayed cover crops on land that would otherwise be bare or have stubble retained. The requirements have been specified along with a standard payment per hectare. Full details are available here.
Crops and activity supported through the Growing for the Environment scheme have been pre-identified as offering clear and quantifiable benefits to the environment and farm businesses.
The maximum grant award, per application round, is £5,000. The minimum grant award is equivalent to the payment rate for 1 ha of eligible crop. Your application may exceed the maximum grant but if your EoI is selected, the related claim will be capped to the maximum £5,000.
Soil Testing
A soil test must be carried out or have been undertaken in the 3 years prior to application. The minimum requirement for this test is an analysis of P, K and pH levels. A soil test will be required for every individual field parcel where a Growing for the Environment option is undertaken, i.e. if a crop is grown in two field parcels, two separate soil tests will be required.
Expression of interest
Land managers and farming businesses are selected following the submission of an Expression of Interest (EoI) to the Welsh Government. You can only complete an EoI for the Growing for the Environment Scheme (Autumn Cover Crops) by accessing Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online. Guidance on how to submit your Expression of Interest (EoI) via RPW Online is available.
Payments
Payments will only be available to claim via your RPW Online account following the successful submission of all supporting documentation.
Further information
Further information on the scheme and eligibility requirements is available in the Growing for the environment: rules booklet (window 7)
Small Grants – Environment Scheme (Water)
The Small Grants – Environment (Water) scheme opened for applications on the 21st of May and will close on the 1st of July 2025. The indicative budget allocation for this application window is £3.0 million, providing a maximum of £7,500 funding per window for capital works projects.
The available activities have been chosen for their broad and general environmental benefits and their ability to deliver the Welsh Government’s ambitions to improve water quality and reduce the risk of flooding.
Expression of interest
Land managers and farming businesses are selected following the submission of an Expression of Interest (EoI) to the Welsh Government. You can only complete an EoI for the Small Grants – Environment (Water) scheme by accessing Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online. Guidance on how to submit your Expression of Interest (EoI) via RPW Online is available.
The selection process
The selection process assesses each capital works project submitted by farming businesses through the EoI. A score will be assigned for each capital works project on its ability to deliver an outcome towards the Small Grants – Environment objectives within the theme. The highest scoring capital works projects will be selected, and land managers or farm businesses will be notified which capital works project has been successful up to a maximum of £7,500 per CRN, per EoI window.
Payments
Payments will only be available to claim via your RPW Online account following the successful validation of capital works claims.
Further information
Further information on the scheme and eligibility requirements is available in the Small Grants – Environment (water): general rules booklet 2025.
Small Grants – Woodland Creation
The second 2025 Small Grants – Woodland Creation application window opened on the 19th of May and closes on the 27th of June, with one further window in July (21st July – 29th August).
Small Grants – Woodland Creation is a scheme aimed at farmers and other land managers to encourage planting of small areas of trees on land which is agriculturally improved or low environmental value in Wales.
Amendments to the scheme include:
- Making it easier to plant trees on farms with smaller areas now eligible
- More flexible species mixes
- A new ‘fruit and nut’ and ‘coastal’ species mix
- An optional £300 contribution for additional advice
Expression of interest
Land managers and farming businesses are selected following the submission of an Expression of Interest (EoI) to the Welsh Government. You can only complete an EoI for Small Grants – Woodland Creation by accessing Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online.
Before completing your on-line EoI it is recommended you carry out a site assessment of your proposed area for planting. This will help you decide which of the available Woodland Categories will best achieve your planting aims and suitability of the location. Guidance on carrying out this assessment is provided in the Technical Guidance booklet.
Further information
Further information on the scheme and eligibility requirements is available in the Small Grants – Woodland Creation (window 7): rules booklet
Help with scheme applications
Our Stewardship & Grants team are available to complete, submit, and manage scheme applications on your behalf. For further help and advice, please contact them on 01981 590514.
Information on rural grants and payments in Wales is available at https://www.gov.wales/rural-grants-payments