Tree Planting Guidelines Winter 2025-2026.
You will need to agree to follow the guidelines written below when you make your application. Please read them carefully as they outline important details for safe and appropriate tree planting.
You need to agree to the following:
To take part in the Trees on the Land project entirely at your own risk.
To ensure permission for planting has been given by the landowner.
To accommodate and look after the trees permanently as part of the Trees on the Land project.
To plant the trees yourself with help from family, friends or local contractors and ensure the trees are planted properly.
To protect the trees as needed from wild and domestic browsing animals and damage by mowers, strimmers and flails with appropriate fencing or tree guards.
Appropriate Planting:
You need to agree:
Not to plant on unenclosed land, moorland, wetland, heathland or bog. Also not to plant on unimproved or marginally improved pasture or meadow that has never been ploughed. Please email for advice before making an application if your site falls within these areas.
Not to plant on land falling within an SAC, SPA, SSSI, NHA or any other designated site. Please email for advice before making an application if your site falls within these areas.
To leave an unplanted buffer of 20 meters along ponds, streams and rivers and other waterways. Trees can be planted in small numbers as individual scattered trees and small groups within this area as long as there is an even balance of light and shade so that the water is not more than 50% shaded along its length.
Not to plant more than 0.1 Ha or 1/4 Acre as one plot.
If you wish to plant an area greater than 0.1 Ha or 1/4 Acre, please notify our team in your application or by email and we will guide you through some additional application steps.
Setting Back:
You need to agree:
To observe the following set back distances when planting trees:
To keep back the required distance from power lines and phone cables and not to plant directly beneath them. It is your responsibility to check relevant set backs for phone and power lines and especially higher voltage power lines with the ESB.
To keep back 3 - 6 metres from underground pipes - water pipes, gas supplies, sewage and wastewater pipes and other drainage. It is your responsibility to check for underground pipes, wires and services before planting trees.
To avoid planting within 20 metres of inhabited buildings.
To keep back 3 - 5 metres from small roads and tracks and 10 meters from main roads.
To keep back 1 - 5 metres from fence lines, walls and other boundaries.
To keep back 3 - 5 metres from hedges and ditches when planting woodland or coppice areas. If you are restocking or extending an existing hedge, this does not apply.