3. Validation

What is validation?  

Validation is an initial evaluation of a project or group to ensure it meets the Woodland Carbon Code standard.  

Validations are carried out by organisations which have been approved by the UK Accreditation Service. Validators check that the claims about expected carbon capture are materially correct.

When should I validate and how long does it take?

You can submit your validation documents as soon as you have finished planting your trees. 

It could take up to a year to validate your project. It’s best to plan ahead by contacting your validation body before you finish planting to request a quote and book your slot. 

You have up to three years from the date your project is registered to complete validation. For groups, the three-year period starts when the first project in the group is registered. 

If your planting won’t be finished in this timescale, you can contact us to request a validation extension. Extensions can last up to one year after your planting finishes. Validation extensions can also be given in other extenuating circumstances. 

Who can validate my project?

Organic Farmers & Growers and Soil Association are accredited by the UK Accreditation Service to validate Woodland Carbon Code projects.

Organic Farmers & Growers	Soil Association
Katherine Degg This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   T: 01939 291 800	Rebecca Fairman This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. T: 01179 142 435

How much does it cost?

The cost varies because each third-party validator sets their own fees. We recommend getting quotes from both validators.

As of January 2025, validation typically costs between £1,800 and £2,500 plus VAT per project.

The cost for validating a group will be higher, but the cost per project will be lower. For example, the cost per project could be £370 to £1,500 plus VAT, depending on the size of the group. 

When your project is validated, Pending Issuance Units are issued. This costs 15 pence per unit. Visit our registry fees page for more details.

If you’ve hired a project developer, they might charge you for their time to prepare the validation documents and work with the validator. Be sure to discuss this with them.

What's the process?

There are six main steps to having your project validated. Your validator will keep your informed about progress.

1. Pre-validation area check 

Before you validate, send your map and carbon calculation spreadsheet to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we can check the area where you are claiming carbon units.  

Once we are happy with the map, we’ll send you a pre-validation area check email, with your map and carbon calculation spreadsheet attached.

2. Select a validator

Agree and sign a contract with either the Soil Association or Organic Farmers & Growers.

3. Prepare and submit documents 

Prepare and submit the following documents to your validator, referring to the Woodland Carbon Code standard and guidance and template documents.

• Project design document*
• Woodland carbon code carbon calculator*
• Landowner, tenant and agent contact details sheet
• Woodland carbon code cashflow sheet
• Landowner/tenant commitment statement and/or group agreement
• Map of site*
• Woodland benefits tool*
• Pre-validation area check email

• For natural regeneration only:
  • Secondary map of site showing any seed sources, the gross, net and upfront claimable areas and existing mature trees*
  • If claiming any natural regeneration beyond 50m from existing seed sources, a third map of a seedling survey showing the presence and condition of any existing seedlings*

Additional supporting evidence might be required. Refer to the Woodland Carbon Code standard and guidance and the project design document for details.

Please note:  

• All signed documents (the commitment statement, group agreement and communications agreement) should be in PDF format and should be a single, coherent, legible, unaltered and complete document. 
• Where the signee is not the sole owner or is the legal signatory for a trust, company, charity or partnership, they should confirm their authority to sign the documents. 

4. Project audit

The validator will audit your project or group to ensure it meets Woodland Carbon Code requirements.  

This may involve a site visit if you haven’t already had a forestry authority visit during environmental impact assessment or grant application processes. 

For groups, the validation body will also audit the group manager to assess their group documentation, control systems and management processes. 

You might be asked to provide additional evidence or to take corrective actions. You'll have one month to complete corrective actions, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

5. Project review

Your documents will be reviewed by a second validation reviewer and checked by the Woodland Carbon Code team to ensure they are consistent and complete.  

If everything is in order, the validation body will issue a validation statement. The statement will be valid for five years from the start date of the project or group.

In some cases where there are serious concerns about your project and corrective actions were insufficient or not received within the agreed timeframe, the validator will provide an ‘unsatisfactory’ status. Where this occurs, the project will be cancelled from the registry and no Pending Issuance Units will be listed. 

6. Update the registry and receive Pending Issuance Units

The final stage is to update the registry and submit your project as validated.

1.  Log in to the UK Land Carbon Registry, check your project or group information is correct and make any updates which might be needed.

2.  If the registry account holder is not the landowner, you must provide documentation confirming the account holder has the right to list and manage the project’s carbon units. Upload one of the following: 

• If the account holder does not own the carbon units, a communications agreement to show the landowner is happy for the project developer to represent them in the registry
• If the account holder has bought the carbon units from the landowner, a Proof of Right to confirm the project developer owns the rights to the units and has the authority to list them in their account. This should include:
  • Clear identification of the landowner and the UK Land Carbon Registry account holder
  • The project name as it appears in the UK Land Carbon Registry and other project documentation
  • A map of the project area (e.g. by including the Woodland Carbon Code map as an annex)
  • The project start date and duration or end date
  • A clause that transfers the right to the units generated by the project for the entire crediting period
  • Signatures and dates of all parties

3.  Submit the project or group as 'validated' in the registry.  

4.  Your validation body will upload the final documents. Documents marked * above will be publicly available. You will receive an email from S&P Global confirming your project is shown as validated in the UK Land Carbon Registry. 

5.  S&P Global will set up and invoice you for Pending Issuance Units representing the predicted carbon removal of your project. Once you have paid, the units will become active in your account. For more information, see registry fees. 

6.  When you sell units, you need to transfer them to the buyer's account or assign them to the buyer. Find out more about selling your units.

For more information, see How to submit your project as validated on registry (pdf). 

Significant changes to projects or project developer/owner circumstances

If there are significant changes to a project after validation, it will need to be re-validated. This could happen due to:

• A significant change to the area or management of the project
• The project ownership being split between different owners or two neighbouring projects being amalgamated by one owner
• A project joining or leaving a group of projects

Changes to the area or management of a project may lead to:

• A change in the carbon prediction, which could result in some carbon units being marked as ‘not delivered’ or
• An unsuccessful re-validation, with the project and any carbon units issued marked as ‘not delivered’

For more information, contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..