RPA Defines Woodland as 0.5ha+ With Dense Trees

Guidance

RPA woodland definition

Use the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) definition for when land can be classed as woodland for scheme purposes.

From: Rural Payments Agency Published 22 April 2026 Get emails about this page

Applies to England

Print this page This definition is based on the Forestry Commission definition of woodland and trees.

Woodland over 0.5 hectares (ha)

Land is woodland if all the following apply:

• the area is at least 0.5ha
• the area is at least 20 metres (m) wide, or about the width of 3 or more closely spaced trees
• the trees are dense and not scattered across agricultural land

Woodland smaller than 0.5ha

Some land is woodland even if it is smaller than 0.5ha.

Land fully covered by trees

Any land parcel that is completely covered by trees is woodland, whatever its size.

Groups of trees within arable land

Groups of trees within arable parcels are woodland, whatever their size. This does not include temporary grass or lines of trees.

Tree groups next to larger woodland

A group of trees smaller than 0.5ha is woodland if it is next to a larger woodland area. It counts as part of that larger woodland.

Several small tree groups that form mostly woodland

Land is woodland where both the following apply:

• more than 50% of the land parcel is covered by one or more woodland areas that are smaller than 0.5ha
• the trees form a mostly continuous canopy, with only small gaps

Land that is not woodland

Land is not woodland if trees are scattered or widely spaced to allow agricultural activity to take place. You should record the land as permanent grassland or arable land.

The following areas are not woodland.

Lines of trees

Lines of trees are not woodland if they are either of the following:

• no more than 20m wide
• the width of 3 trees

Groups of trees, smaller than 0.5ha, in permanent grassland

Smaller groups of trees in permanent grassland are not woodland where the area under the canopy is either:

• suitable for cultivation or grazing of livestock
• not suitable for cultivation but grazing animals have access to the area and more than 50% of the area is covered by grasses, other herbaceous forage or is arable land Published 22 April 2026 Get emails about this page Print this page Contents