Tree Planting Grants and Initiatives
There are numerous tree planting grants and initiatives currently available to local authorities and the Association of Tree Officers (ATO) have listed below the ones that we are aware of to help Tree Officers navigate the options.
The list below is not exhaustive, and if you are aware of a national or regional tree planting grant or initiative that is available for local authorities, please inform Becky Porter, ATO National Coordinator (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and they can be added to the list:
- felling and treating diseased or infested trees and necessary infrastructure improvements
- restocking with new trees and capital items to assist this
- maintenance of newly planted trees biosecurity items
- larch trees with Phytophthora ramorum
- spruce trees with or at risk of Ips typographus (eight-toothed spruce bark beetle)
- sweet chestnut trees with Phytophthora ramorum or sweet chestnut blight
- oak trees with oak processionary moth (OPM)
- ash trees with ash dieback
Green Infrastructure Partnership Newsletter
Green Infrastructure Partnership newsletter | Town and Country Planning Association (tcpa.org.uk)
Tree planting grants are under the Funding section
Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund
The Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund (WCAF) is a simple fund with a total value of £9,800,000. It is designed to provide financial support to increase the capacity of specialist skills within local authorities enabling them in turn to accelerate the delivery of tree planting and woodland creation commitments. The ultimate goal of the fund is to enable more trees planted particularly in winter seasons 2023/24 and 2024/25.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/woodland-creation-accelerator-fund-wcaf
Emergency Tree Fund for Local Authorities
The Woodland Trust has delivered a major green boost for communities across the UK by providing much needed funding for cash strapped local authorities to plant trees and create green spaces.
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/press-centre/2021/03/emergency-tree-fund/
The National Highways’ tree planting scheme
Free Trees for Schools & Communities
A Woodland Trust scheme
We want to make sure everybody in the UK has the chance to plant a tree. So, we’re giving away hundreds of thousands of trees to schools and communities. Together, we'll get millions more trees in the ground.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/
Community Green SpaceFund
Defra has launched a new fund that will provide up to £7 million of funding to communities in enhancing, restoring and creating green spaces across the country. Grants of up to £75,000 will be provided to help communities to plant fruits, vegetables and trees. Open to: land managers & farmers, local authorities & public bodies, communities and not-for-profit organisations.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rural-community-green-spaces-to-be-rejuvenated-through-new-government-investment?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=4f81c1bf-b5aa-4fed-a4bd-9eb3c381b291&utm_content=daily
Local Authority Treescapes fund
The LATF is the key government offer for local authorities (LAs) to restore tree cover in non-woodland areas which may have been impacted by issues such as disease, habitat degradation or ageing tree stock.
Local Authority Treescapes Fund - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Chichester District tree scheme
The council has launched a new initiative to help increase the number of trees that are planted in Chichester District. This is part of the council's wider ambition to tackle climate change and support the district's wildlife.
Chichester District tree scheme: Chichester District Council
Tiny Forests
Tiny Forest can connect people with nature in their local area and support general wellbeing. They offer a place to relax, watch wildlife and an educational resource.
https://earthwatch.org.uk/program/tiny-forest/
Trees for Streets
The national street tree sponsorship scheme
https://www.treesforstreets.org/
The Woods into Management (WiM) Forestry Innovation Funds
Through the Woods into Management (WiM) Forestry Innovation Funds, grant funding will be made available to stimulate the development and testing of new ideas that can help improve the ecological condition of woodlands, and their resilience to climate change, via increased demand for wood and increased levels of woodland management.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/woods-into-management-forestry-innovation-funds
The England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)
Landowners, land managers and public bodies can apply to the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) for support to create new woodland, including through natural colonisation.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/england-woodland-creation-offer
The Planting of riverbanks and watercourses
Planting the right tree, in the right place, can help manage flooding, improve water quality, and support aquatic habitats.
(See the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) above.)
Woodland Creation Grants
This grant provides financial support for creating larger areas of woodland or small areas not suitable for the Small Grants. Who can apply: farmers, land managers and other landowners can apply for the scheme.
https://www.gov.wales/woodland-creation-grant-overview
International Tree Foundation (ITF) - UK Community Tree Planting Programme
Every year ITF supports UK community groups to achieve their tree-planting ambitions.
https://www.internationaltreefoundation.org/uk-community-tree-planting/
