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New fund to green cities with £10 million of match
funding
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More than 130,000 urban trees to be planted across
England over the next two years
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Urban trees vital in fight against climate change and
connecting us with nature to boost health and
wellbeing
A new £10 million plan will see more than
130,000 trees planted across England’s towns and cities,
Environment Secretary announced today.
Through the Urban Tree Challenge Fund, grants
will be made available over the next two years to green urban
areas and meet the government’s target to plant one million urban
trees by 2022.
Planting more trees is crucial in the fight
against climate change, because trees store carbon and can help
make our towns and cities more resilient. Trees in urban areas
improve health and wellbeing, connect people with the outdoors,
absorb noise, reduce flood risk, reduce temperatures through
shading, and create green spaces to help communities come
together.
The scheme, which will be administered by the
Forestry Commission, will be open to individuals, local
authorities, charities and NGOs. Grants will fund the planting of
trees and the first three years of their care to ensure they can
flourish into the future.
Environment Secretary said:
“Trees are vital in the fight against climate
change, which is why we must go further and faster to increase
planting rates.
“We need trees lining the streets of our
cities and towns, not only to green and shade them but to ensure
that we remain connected to the wonders of the natural world and
the health and wellbeing benefits that it brings us.”
Government Tree
Champion Sir William Worsley said:
“Trees are the lifeblood of our nation, and it
is more important than ever to ensure they are rooted not only in
our countryside, but in our towns and cities too.
“The benefits of planting urban trees are
endless, and I encourage anyone with the ability to apply for
this fund to get involved and help green our towns and
cities.”
The grant will be delivered as a challenge
fund, and therefore requires match funding from those who
apply.
The scheme will support projects which can
provide the greatest environmental and social benefits, and
applications will be processed by the Forestry Commission. A map
will be available to check eligibility before applying.
Forestry Commission Chair Sir Harry
Studholme said:
“I am delighted the Forestry Commission have
been asked to deliver the Urban Tree Challenge Fund. The
fund is an important part of the work that the Forestry
Commission is doing to expand England’s tree and woodland
cover.
“It allows us to plant more trees much closer
to where people live and work, and where the many benefits of
trees make the most difference. We look forward to lots of new
planting happening this Autumn.”
Chair of England’s Community Forests
and Director of The Mersey Forest, Paul Nolan
said:
“There is an increasing understanding of the
role that trees and woodlands play in helping to make our towns
and cities better places for people and nature to
thrive.
“We need to be planting many more trees over
the next 25 years, and England’s Community Forests welcome this
new investment that is being announced by the government.”
The launch of the fund forms part of the
government’s Year of Green Action, a year-long
drive to help people to connect with, protect and enhance nature.
This commitment forms part of the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan to
instil a legacy for the future, with a focus on children and
young people.
Earlier this year the government consulted on a raft of forestry
measures which included proposals to ensure
communities have their say on whether street trees should be
felled, with legislation to be brought forward later this
year.
The government is committed to growing
woodland cover, and this year we will consult on a new English
Tree Strategy to accelerate woodland creation and introduce a
flagship Environment Bill to address the biggest environmental
priorities of our age.
The fund will be open this week for
applications.
