1. Eligibility

From 1 October 2022, all projects (whether single or part of a group) shall be registered before work begins onsite (the project implementation date). 

Between 1 July 2021 and 1 October 2022, projects had to be registered before planting began (or, for natural regeneration, the fence was complete or deer control to enable natural regeneration started).  

Between 1 August 2013 and 1 July 2021, projects had to register within two years of the start of planting (or, for natural regeneration, within two years of the fence being completed or within two years of deer control to enable natural regeneration starting).  

Before 1 August 2013, projects with a start date of 1 January 2000 could register. 

Single projects shall be validated within three years of registration. 

For groups, projects may be added to a group (subject to group rules) up to the point of validation. Group validation shall be carried out within three years of the date of the first registration within the group. 

A validation extension may be given in extenuating circumstances. Validation statements shall only be issued once planting is completed (the project start date).

All projects shall have a clearly defined project duration of at least 40 years and shall not exceed 100 years. 

Projects involving clearfelling shall have a minimum project duration equal to the shortest clearfell rotation in the project, where the shortest clearfell rotation length is more than 40 years. Projects shall undergo monitoring for the duration of the project. 

The project duration shall not be extended after validation.

• Project design document.
• Grant scheme contract.

• Not required unless changes are made to the project duration.

Project start date and registration

The project implementation date is the date when work begins onsite, either fencing, adoption of an enhanced herbivore/deer management plan, ground preparation or planting, whichever happens first. For a project with a combination of planting and natural regeneration, the project implementation date will be the earliest of the two dates.

The project start date is the last day of planting or, for natural regeneration, the date when fencing is complete and/or the date an enhanced herbivore/deer management plan has started to be implemented. For a project with a combination of planting and natural regeneration, the project start date will be the latest of the two dates. Carbon sequestration is claimed from the start date. 

For projects validated using version 1.2 of the Woodland Carbon Code or earlier, the start date was defined as the start of planting.

For groups of projects validated together, the group start date is the latest start date within the group. Carbon sequestration is claimed from the group start date.

The project registration date is the date when a project moves from ‘draft’ to ‘under development’ status on the UK Land Carbon Registry. This is the date the project is approved by the Woodland Carbon Code secretariat and the registry provider. 

Project duration

The project duration is the time over which carbon sequestration claims are to be made. Project developers can choose a project duration between 40 years or the length of their shortest clearfell rotation, if this is longer than 40 years, and 100 years. Their choice may depend on whether it is cost effective to verify carbon sequestration from later vintages or how long they want to commit. Projects involving clearfelling can claim the carbon accrued in areas of the project that are not clearfelled up to the project duration.

If projects have not sold all their carbon units, they may reduce the project duration at a verification, provided it remains above the minimum duration. If the project duration is reduced, then the carbon calculation will be updated and some Pending Issuance Units will be marked ‘not delivered’.

The project duration should not be confused with permanence. See section 2.3.

Project end date

The project end date is the project start date plus the project duration. It can be up to 100 years from the start date. For example, if a project start date is 01/04/2013 and its duration is 100 years, then end date is 31/3/2113.

Validation extensions

For single projects or groups, a validation extension will be given, for example, if your planting will span three to five planting seasons or planting is unavoidably delayed. Extensions may last up to one year after your planting finishes. Extensions may also be given in other extenuating circumstances. Contact us.

Woodland creation activities shall be eligible if they take place on:

• Land that has not been wooded in the last 25 years
• Soils which are not organic (i.e. less than 30cm depth peat in England and 50cm depth peat in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). 

The new woodland shall have the potential to achieve at least 20 percent canopy cover. Therefore, the woodland shall achieve at least 400 stems per hectare or no more than five metre spacing over the net project area.

Woodlands may be established by planting, direct seeding or natural colonisation/regeneration.

For natural colonisation/regeneration

• The project developer shall demonstrate the need for action to enable woodland to regenerate naturally.
• Where the project developer wishes to claim upfront for carbon sequestration more than 50 metres from a seed source, they shall supply a seedling survey.

Where it is possible that there are organic soils, a peat depth survey shall be provided at validation. Where it is possible that there is a mosaic of habitat types or priority habitats, then soil type and vegetation (British National Vegetation Classification) surveys shall be provided at validation.

For conversion of open ground to woodland:

• Statement on land use in project design document.    
• Land use records.
• Reference to historical maps, images or other sources such as the Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry, Welsh Government or Northern Ireland Forest Service planting and felling databases.
• Signed attestation from independent expert. 

For natural colonisation/regeneration:

• Seedling survey for ‘upfront claimable’ areas of natural regeneration conducted before the project start date.
• Map of seedling density

For soil type:

• Statement on soil type in project design document.
• Results of field survey for soil type and, where necessary, surveys for peat depth and vegetation (see section 3.1).
• Soil maps.

• Not required.

Natural regeneration 

To be eligible, the landowner needs to take some action to enable woodland to regenerate. Most commonly in the UK, this requires reducing browsing pressure. 

Successful establishment and carbon sequestration by natural regeneration/ colonisation can be less predictable than in planted woodlands. Due to this, we adopt a conservative approach where either a limited number of Pending Issuance Units are issued upfront or no Pending Issuance Units are issued upfront.  
 

The actual sequestration at the project site will be established at verification. Any ‘extra’ sequestration above that issued as Pending Issuance Units will be credited as Woodland Carbon Units. Natural regeneration/colonisation areas should be capable of achieving at least 400 stems per hectare overall.

Upfront claimable areas: The area/amount of Pending Issuance Units that is ‘upfront claimable’ depends on evidence that successful regeneration/colonisation is likely. The following areas may be claimed upfront:

• Areas within 50m of a seed source
• Areas further than 50m from a seed source, provided a seedling survey demonstrates that there is evidence of suppressed seedlings

Eligible areas will have a seedling height on average less than 0.5m high, suppressed by browsing. Saplings between 0.5m and 1m are acceptable provided the average seedling/sapling height across the ‘claimable area’ of the site is less than 0.5m. See the carbon calculation guidance for further details of the seedling survey.

Future claimable areas: Project developers may also register and validate areas they hope will naturally regenerate/colonise, but there is not yet sufficient evidence (in the form of seedlings) to claim upfront. These could be areas further from any seed source. No Pending Issuance Units will be issued for these areas, but if the project developer can demonstrate the carbon stock of these areas at verification, Woodland Carbon Units will be issued at that time.

Soil and the Woodland Carbon Code

The carbon benefits associated with woodland creation are generally greatest on soils with lower organic matter content (such as mineral soils) and where establishment and management techniques disturb the soil as little as possible. Project developers should use ground preparation techniques with the minimum soil disturbance necessary for successful establishment. 
 

For further advice on ground preparation and planting on organomineral soils, see:

• Decision support framework for peatland protection (England)
• Scotland's guide for cultivation on upland sites

How do I confirm the soil type and peat depth on my site?

Projects should assess the soil type onsite using one of the following methods:

• Using the following maps to check for areas of peat:
  o  The British Geological Survey 1:250,000 or 1:50,000 scale data for mapped areas of peat exceeding 100cm in depth.
  o  Soil Survey of Scotland, Soil Survey of England and Wales and Soil Survey of Northern Ireland 1:250,000, 1:63,360, 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 data for mapped areas of peat.
  o  Forestry Commission soil maps for mapped 'deep peat' soil types.
• Ascertain soil type using one of the following tools:
  o  In Scotland, using Soilfinder 
  o  In England and Wales, using the Land Information System Soilscapes tool
• Field survey for soil type and where necessary, peat depth and vegetation

Peat depth survey

• Where it is possible there are organic/deep peat soils, then use a peat probe to assess depth (contact us if further information required):
  o  Use GPS to set out a regular 50m by 50m sampling grid across the site
  o  Use a peat probe measure and record the depth at each point
  o  If you need to show where the 50cm depth boundary falls, 3D modelling packages can then estimate the 50cm depth peat boundary if necessary. This can be affirmed or refined by probing on a 10m by 10m grid as above.

Projects shall demonstrate legal ownership or tenure of the project area. 

For land under crofting and common grazing in Scotland:

Specific requirements apply to land under crofting and common grazing in Scotland which is regulated under the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 as amended by the Crofting Reform etc Act 2007 (asp 7), the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 14) and the Crofting (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2013. 

We may amend the crofting requirements once the new Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill is introduced. If required, we will publish a clarification to version 3.0 of the code.

See section 2.1 for details of the commitments required in these circumstances. 

For tenanted crofts, eligible land is land within the inbye land of the croft or common grazing land that has been permanently apportioned to the croft. Land let by subtenants is not eligible without the consent and agreement of both the main tenant and subtenant. Common grazing land that is under a termed (or time limited) apportionment to a croft is not eligible. 

For common grazings, land is eligible where either: 

• An application for that land has been made and approved for the use of common grazings for forestry purposes under section 50 of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993, or
• That land is identified within an agreement made between the landowner and common grazing shareholders and recorded with the Crofting Commission, under section 50A: Joint forestry ventures etc. of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993.

• Contact details form
• Solicitor’s letter    
• Title deeds
• Land registry records
  o  Land Registry (England and Wales)
  o  Registers of Scotland
  o  The Land Registry Northern Ireland
• Certified copy of lease and landlord's consent, if leased
• For tenanted crofts, including permanently apportioned land:
  o  Register number from the Crofting Commission Register of Crofts, and 
  o  Register number and register plan, including all proposed land from the Registers of Scotland Crofting Register
• For use of common grazings for forestry purposes under section 50 of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993: 
  o  Confirmation of approved application 
  o  Register number for all participating common grazing shareholders from the Crofting Commission Register of Crofts, and 
  o  Copy of crofter forestry entry on Crofting Commission Register of Crofts
• For Joint forestry ventures on common grazings under section 50A of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993:
  o  Register number for all participating common grazing shareholders and landowner from the Crofting Commission Register of Crofts, and 
  o  Copy of joint forestry venture entry on Crofting Commission Register of Crofts

• Contact details form, with evidence as per validation if landowner or tenant has changed
• For tenanted crofts - confirmation of tenant contact details
• For use of common grazings for forestry purposes under section 50 of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 - confirmation of contact details for all participating shareholders and common grazing clerk
• For joint forestry ventures etc. On common grazings under section 50A of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 - confirmation of contact details for all participating shareholders, landowner and common grazing clerk

One way of proving ownership through the relevant land registry:

• Land Registry (England and Wales)
• Registers of Scotland
• The Land Registry Northern Ireland

For crofting and common grazing in Scotland, see:

• Crofting Commission Register of Crofts
• Registers of Scotland Crofting Register

Projects shall comply with the law.

• Statements in project design document that the project complies with all relevant laws.
• Project design document outlines a system or procedures for being aware of and implementing requirements of new legislation.
• Signed commitment from the landowner to comply with the law (see section 2.1).
• No evidence of non-compliance.

• Statements in the project progress report that the project continues to comply with all relevant laws.
• Other evidence as per validation.

Validation and verification are not a legal compliance audit. The validation/verification bodies will be checking that there is no evidence of non-compliance with relevant legal requirements and that no issues of non-compliance are raised by regulatory authorities or other interested parties.

The main legislation relevant to sustainable forest management is set out in the UK Forestry Standard (including the elements of sustainable forest management: climate change, soil, water, biodiversity, landscape, historic environment and people).

Projects shall conform to the UK Forestry Standard, including the elements of sustainable forest management (climate change, soil, water, biodiversity, landscape, historic environment and people).

• Statement in project design document that the project conforms to the UK Forestry Standard.
• Signed commitment from the landowner to conform to the UK Forestry Standard (see section 2.1).
• Certification to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard.
• No evidence of non-conformance.
   

• Statement in project progress report that the project conforms to the UK Forestry Standard.
• Certification to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard
• Other evidence as per validation.

Validation and verification are not a UK Forestry Standard conformance audit. The validation/verification bodies will be checking that there is no evidence of non-compliance with the UK Forestry Standard.

Certification to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard provides evidence that the project meets high standards of sustainable woodland management.

Projects shall pass the legal and financial tests to demonstrate additionality.

Legal test: 

The woodland creation shall not be required by law. This includes woodland creation under legislation set by the EU, UK, devolved administrations or local government. 

A woodland creation project shall be legally additional when there are no laws, statutes, regulations, court orders, environmental management agreements, planning decisions or other legally binding agreements that require its implementation, or the implementation of measures that would achieve equivalent levels of sequestration or other greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Compensatory planting to replace areas of woodland that are felled (e.g. for development or restoration of open habitats) or areas felled due to a Statutory Plant Health Notice shall not pass the legal test.

Financial test: 

Projects shall show that, without carbon finance, woodland creation is not the most economically or financially attractive land use. 

Project developers shall use the cashflow template to demonstrate how the financial test is met. 

All expected income streams including carbon unit sales shall be included in the cashflow. If you do not receive a formal grant contract, contact the Woodland Carbon Code team. 

If further income streams are identified at a later date, evidence shall be requested to show that the project was not aware of this income opportunity or had not entered into a separate agreement at the time of validation. 

If Woodland Carbon Code projects are subsequently found not to meet any of the requirements above, the project and carbon units shall be marked 'not delivered' on the UK Land Carbon Registry.

Requirements for older projects:

Projects which were registered before 1 July 2021 and registered after tree planting had started, shall supply evidence to confirm that carbon finance from selling carbon units or creating your own carbon units was considered in the planning stages of the project. Evidence may include minutes of board meetings or planning documents, cashflow or emails.

• Statements in project design document.
• Cashflow.
• Further evidence of costs/incomes.

• Not required.

How to assess additionality

Legal test

Further guidance on planning decisions:

Woodland creation as a result of a planning condition under a Town and Country Planning Act or in England the Environment Act 2021 may be eligible provided:

• There is a range of possible environmental solutions and woodland creation is not specifically required.
• It is not compensatory planting to replace areas of woodland felled.
• The income from the developer/ planning condition doesn’t rule the project out under the financial test.

This includes:

• The Town and Country Planning Act (1990), Section 106 Planning Obligation (for England and Wales)
• The Town and Country Planning Act (Scotland) 1997, Section 75 Planning Obligations
• The Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, Section 121 Planning permission to include appropriate provision for trees
• Conservation Covenants for Biodiversity Net Gain under the Environment Act 2021.

In England, woodland creation projects established to provide biodiversity credits under Biodiversity Net Gain or nutrient credits under the Solent Nutrient Market or Somerset Catchment Market are unlikely to be eligible for the Woodland Carbon Code as their legal agreements are likely to specify that woodland creation is required.

Financial test

The purpose of the financial test is to demonstrate that, over the project duration, without carbon finance, woodland creation is not the most economically or financially attractive option for that area of land.

The cashflow uses standard costs incurred in woodland creation and standard carbon/timber income as well as income from the current land use. Project developers enter their actual grant and other income. The net cashflow is calculated over the project duration and is based on current prices.

Project size

From 1 May 2024, projects shall be at least one hectare net planted/regenerating area. 

• A project shall be made up of blocks of woodland at least 0.1 hectares net planted/regenerating area, with a minimum width of ten metres.
• A project shall span up to five planting years in time.
• Blocks of woodland within a project shall be part of a contiguous land ownership unit or shall be under the same ownership, manager and management plan.
• For projects receiving grant funding, the entire grant area relevant to woodland creation shall be included in the Woodland Carbon Code project. A planting area shall not be subdivided for the purposes of Woodland Carbon Code validation.

Small projects process 

Small projects more than one hectare and less than or equal to ten hectares net planted/regenerating area may use the streamlined process at validation and verification, provided they use the ‘small project’ tab in the carbon calculator. Projects which use the small project carbon calculator may also: 

• Omit a number of sections as indicated in the project design document and project progress report
• Carry out basic monitoring from year 15.

Projects up to ten hectares net planted/regenerating area which were validated as a standard project before version 3.0 may move to the small woods process at their next verification, provided they have not sold all of their pending issuance units. 

Projects moving to the small woods process at verification shall complete a small woods carbon calculator. Any previously-issued pending issuance units extra to the small woods prediction will be marked 'not delivered’. 

Small projects may undertake full monitoring and verification at a future verification point to determine the actual carbon sequestration. Projects may receive extra verified Woodland Carbon Units if growth is more than predicted. 

Projects which were validated under the small woods process shall undergo re-validation if they wish to move to the standard process.

Projects over ten hectares shall use the ‘standard’ process at validation and verification.

Groups of projects

Projects may be grouped for validation and verification. A group shall span no more than five consecutive planting seasons and be constituted of:

• Up to 15 'standard' projects; and
• Up to 100 hectares (net) area of ‘small’ projects using the streamlined process

If a group is formed for verification, the project start dates within the group shall be within two years of each other. This also means their verifications will be due within two years of each other.

Ideally, groups will maintain their structure throughout the project duration, but groups which have not pooled carbon may change their structure. Groups which have not pooled carbon shall follow the ‘project changes’ guidance if changes to the group structure are required.

Groups which have pooled carbon shall not change group structure.

• Project design document.    
• Map of site.
• Grant contract.

• Not required.

Size 

Before May 2024, there was no minimum project or block size. Projects smaller than one hectare which were validated before this date remain eligible.

A project using the small woods process may undertake full monitoring and verification at any verification point, if they believe the project has sequestered more than predicted. Such projects may receive extra Woodland Carbon Units if the survey confirms this.

Groups

There is no geographic restriction within a group.

If a group manager wishes to make a case to create and validate a group of more than 15 projects or spanning a planting period greater than five years, they should contact the preferred validation/verification body and the Woodland Carbon Code secretariat to ask for prior written approval.

Before version 3.0, groups were required to have a group agreement between the group manager and the landowners of each project. Existing group agreements remain valid. 

From version 3.0, a group agreement is no longer required. For groups not pooling carbon, if there are changes to the group structure, the group agreement should be cancelled. It is not necessary to replace it.