Much of England’s existing woodland is under-managed and in poor condition. The Government’s objectives for net zero, nature recovery and biodiversity depend on existing woodland being much better managed. This will only happen if effective 40 Tree planting financial incentives are in place, but the Government’s has missed an opportunity with its new incentives to change the model for woodland management, by leaving a gap between when subsidies end, after ten years, and the start of income generation after around 20 years. We recommend that Defra and the Forestry Commission review the length of the maintenance payment and, if they decide to keep it unchanged, provide further information and guidance on what forms of additional private finance and economic opportunities landowners should seek to bridge the funding gap.