- New fund for local authorities to increase tree planting and
natural regeneration in locations outside woodlands, helping the
nation build back greener from the pandemic.
- £2.7 million available this round, with applications open
from early April 2021.
- We expect that up to 50 grants worth £50,000 to £300,000 will
be available for local authorities to plant and encourage natural
regeneration of trees to restore neglected green spaces in their
communities.
- Trees have a crucial role to play in delivering net zero
emissions, recovering nature, and bring numerous public benefits,
including reducing air pollution and flood risks.
A brand-new funding initiative to increase tree planting and
natural regeneration in local communities has been announced by
the government today (Friday 12 March), with £2.7 million
available this year, building the pipeline of projects for
community planting in future years.
The
Local
Authority Treescapes fund is aimed at establishing more trees
in riverbanks, hedgerows, parklands, urban areas, beside roads
and footpaths, in copses and shelterbelts, including neglected,
disused and vacant community spaces. Trees in these settings are
particularly valuable as they can provide the greatest levels of
benefit to ecosystems and society, such as carbon absorption,
flood protection and support for biodiversity, as well as
connecting fragmented habitats.
The fund will help the nation build back greener from the
pandemic and will target landscapes that have been neglected in
the past, ecologically damaged or affected by tree diseases like
ash dieback - with ash being the most common species of tree
found in non-woodland locations. Grants are available for local
authorities, working together with community groups, volunteers,
NGOs. Successful applicants will be informed by the end of July.
Forestry Minister said:
“I am delighted to announce this new fund, which will get trees
planted and land regenerated for the benefit of local communities
and nature. This is an opportunity for communities to work with
their local authorities to identify land, design projects and
apply for funds. Trees and land restoration are central to our
plans for nature recovery and to get to net zero emissions, and
we know how much value people place on trees and green spaces in
their local communities.”
Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley said:
“The Local Authority Treescapes Fund can play an important role
in creating resilient new tree growth our communities,
particularly in areas which have lost trees to historical neglect
and disease.”
This year, £2.7 million will be available from the government’s
Nature For Climate Fund.
Applications will be open to all local authorities, via top tier
authority applications. Local authorities are encouraged to work
with other organisations, NGOs, community groups and private
individuals to deliver the most exciting projects. Bids will be
accepted from early April 2021.
The Nature For Climate fund will help us deliver the English
portion of the government’s manifesto commitment to increase tree
planting to 30,000 hectares per year across the UK by 2025,
alongside peatland restoration and nature recovery.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Today’s announcement will support the government’s tree
planting ambitions and support the goals set out in the 2018
Tree Health Resilience Strategy.
- Trees are at the heart of our ambitious environmental
programme. The Prime Minister reiterated our commitment to plant
or naturally regenerate 30,000 hectares per year by 2025, as part
of his 10
Point Plan, and we will be setting out how we
achieve this in the coming months.
