Funding schemes for wooded habitat creation in Sussex

Trees, hedges, and other wooded habitats are essential to nature recovery across the Low Weald and Downs, and the wider Sussex area.

As a landowner, farmer, local council, land manager, or conservation group, we know it can sometimes be challenging to work out which planting schemes are suitable for your land.

To support landowners in local habitat creation, we partnered with funding bodies and local environmental projects to host a workshop on the habitat creation schemes available in Sussex at an event at Plumpton College. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

Below are links to download the presentations given by speakers (please note the date of these presentations was November 2024) and some of the key information and resources discussed at the day.

Resources and presentation downloads

• A summary of the all organisations who attended the workshop and the funding schemes discussed, along with key contact details - download here
• The presentations from the speakers who attended our funding workshop for landowners (November 2024) - part one and part two
• A list of useful links for wooded habitat creation resources - download here
• Footage of local habitat creation examples in Sussex can be viewed here - part one, part two, and part three, with commentary by Bob Epsom from the Lost Woods project team

We were delighted to be joined by representatives from the Forestry Commission, Natural England, Wilder Horsham and Wilder Ouse, South Downs National Park Trust, Weald to Waves, Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust, and The Woodland Trust.

Further advice

We would also like to take this opportunity to encourage you to contact the organisations offering the habitat creation schemes that you’re interested in. All offer 1-1 support and advice, so please contact them to arrange a phone call and/ or a visit to your site. Advisors are keen to find out your objectives and suggest habitat schemes suitable for your land and soil type.  Organisations are also happy to work together and attend site visits jointly where possible, advising you on the best schemes for your land. Contact details for all organisations can be downloaded here.

The Lost Woods project offer

For anyone with land within the Lost Woods of the Low Weald and Downs project area, we are able to offer free advice and support on the following:

• Woodland, hedges and other nature corridor creation (we can help with funding applications and organise volunteers to help with planting)
• Ancient woodland restoration
• Ancient and veteran tree management and ancient and veteran tree recording (we have volunteers trained in identifying ancient and veteran trees, as well as making records for the Ancient Tree Inventory)
• Woodland management training courses and community engagement

Please get in touch with Bob and the team by completing our Landowner contact form or by emailing lostwoods@woodlandtrust.org.uk.