Thousands of trees will be planted near schools and healthcare
centres and in areas with fewer trees and higher social
deprivation, as the Urban Tree Challenge Fund
has re-opened for applications, Defra and the Forestry Commission
announced today.
Across the country 44,000 large trees will be planted in towns
and cities. These will support areas to improve health and
wellbeing and help connect people to the outdoors.
Evidence from Forest
Research shows the majority of adults surveyed agreed that
their level of happiness when in nature has increased compared to
before the pandemic. The new trees will also play a crucial role
in the fight against climate change, supporting the UK’s journey
to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and commitment
to increase tree planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares of
trees a year by 2025.
Today’s announcement comes ahead of the government setting out
its wider plans on how it intends to deliver on its tree planting
commitment. A new action plan for trees and woodland will be
published shortly to outline how government will plant new
high-quality, well-managed trees and woodlands and improve the
condition and resilience of existing ones.
The Urban Tree Challenge Fund has reopened following the success of the first two
rounds where a combined total of up to 134,000 new trees will
be planted across England’s towns and cities.
Forestry Minister
said:
I am delighted to announce the reopening of this hugely
successful fund, made possible by £6 million from our Nature for
Climate Fund. Ahead of our forthcoming ambitious action plan for
trees, woodland and forestry, and to complement our manifesto
ambition to have every new street lined with trees, the Urban
Tree Challenge Fund provides a fantastic example of how trees can
be planted, managed and enjoyed to provide the greatest impact -
in areas where they are needed most.
Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley
said:
The pandemic has shown us just how important trees and nature
are, wherever you live.
Through targeting funding toward areas where they will have the
biggest benefits, including near healthcare and educational
facilities, this fund will deliver increased benefits for health
and wellbeing, as well as contributing towards the government’s
ambition to increase woodland creation across England.
Illustrating the success of the fund to date, Slough Borough
Council have planted over 8,500 trees under the Urban Tree
Challenge Fund. Through the delivery of diverse community-led
tree planting projects, the Council have seen wider health and
educational benefits to the general public, students and schools,
stakeholders and community groups.
Louise Handley at Slough Council said:
The funding from the Urban Tree Challenge Fund has allowed us to
bring post Covid initiatives to the most deprived areas of our
community, which focus on up skilling for employment, active
lifestyles, citizen science and volunteering.
The design of the Urban Forest has facilitated a move away from
close mown grass cutting regimes to one of biodiversity
improvement and habitat creation. This initiative has the
potential to reach all of Slough’s population and its flora and
fauna.
Over the next two years, up to £6 million will be available for
planting in addition to necessary maintenance payments. The
grants are administered by the Forestry Commission, and
successful applicants are match-funding the money they receive.
Grants will fund the planting of trees and the first three years
of their care to ensure they can flourish into the future.
Also being announced today is a new £1 million Woods into
Management Innovation Fund which is due to open in May and will
focus on improving the condition of existing woodlands. The aim
of this scheme, as part of government’s Nature for Climate Fund,
is to increase the area of woodland in active management to
improve their ecological condition, help them adapt to a changing
climate and recover from the impacts of pests and diseases. The
scheme is aimed at forestry businesses and conservation
organisations who are in a position to help owners better manage
their existing woodlands.
This is part of a series of Nature for Climate Fund announcements
this spring, leading up to the publication of the government’s
action plan on trees, woodland and forestry.
In recent months, we have announced the opening of the Local Authority Treescapes
Fund, £12.1 million of
investment for tree planting in Community Forests across the
country, as well as a funding boost and new
woodland creation partnership between Defra and Forest for
Cornwall, and a £3.9 million pot to
support innovative planting schemes in towns and cities and
near rivers to reduce flood risk.
Apply for the Urban Tree
Challenge fund here.
