Tree planting to mark the Coronation of Charles III

• £2.5 million tree planting fund opens to commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
• Funding will support local authorities to plant thousands of trees across the country.
• Applications open from today (5 August) will bring communities closer to nature.

Thousands of trees are set to be planted to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III with a new government fund launching today (Saturday 5 August), celebrating His Majesty’s passion for the environment.

The new £2.5 million fund will enable local authorities to create green spaces and connect communities with nature as a permanent reminder of the Coronation, while helping meet the government’s targets to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament and ensure that 16.5% of land area is under tree cover by 2050.

The projects could include initiatives such as the creation of community orchards and tree nurseries, new ‘Miyawaki’ miniature woodlands in urban areas, and tree planting on farms.

This tree planting initiative aligns with His Majesty’s interest in nature, having held a number of patronages for wildlife and conservation charities during his time serving as the Prince of Wales.

The Fund follows the launch of a number initiatives to mark the Coronation of His Majesty earlier this year, including the renaming of England’s longest national trail as the ‘King Charles III England Coast Path’, the launch of the ‘King’s series of National Nature Reserves’, and Forestry England’s creation of the first official Coronation Woodlands in April 2023.

Through the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan we want to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we inherited it and for more people to get out and experience our incredible wildlife and landscapes in this Coronation year.

Environment Secretary, Thérèse Coffey said:

“Building on the launch of the first Coronation Woodlands this year, I am delighted that communities across the country will be able to create new spaces to enjoy trees which will serve as a permanent reminder of His Majesty’s Coronation in their local areas.

“These new trees will mark His Majesty’s passion for trees and woodlands and deliver a range of benefits for the natural environment - from carbon sequestration, to habitat creation and the boosting of human health and wellbeing”.

Chair of the Forestry Commission, Sir William Worsley said:

“I am delighted that today we are opening the Coronation Living Heritage Fund to commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. This will enable communities to grow new and diverse trees to enrich the environment in which people, wildlife, and nature coexist for generations to come”.

Applications are welcome today (5 August) from upper tier local authorities and district and city councils in England, for grants between £10,000 - £50,000. Projects eligible for funding will cover:

• Coronation Community Orchards: to provide grants for local people and groups to establish community orchards;
• Coronation Miyawaki Woods: to plant miniature areas of woodland in urban areas using the Miyawaki method, involving careful soil preparation to rapidly plant dense native woodlands that are usually the size of a tennis court;
• Coronation tree packs: free or subsidised tree schemes, administered by local authorities for local residents and organisations;
• Trees on farms: to provide grants for local farmers and residents to plant trees on agricultural land;
• Small and Community tree nurseries: to support small and community-run tree nurseries to set-up, increase production, improve their biosecurity practices, or fund audits, advice, or support for the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme.

These projects will be run by local authorities that apply successfully to the fund. Other groups, such as parish councils and housing associations, that are keen to get involved can contact their relevant county, unitary, metropolitan borough or district council.

The fund will be open for five weeks from Saturday 5th August to Monday 11th September.

To apply, please visit this page.

Notes to editors:

• The Coronation Living Heritage Fund will make a total of £2.5 million available as part Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund, which has allocated £640 million for projects aimed at expanding and enhancing tree cover across England. The trees planted through this fund will capture carbon, restore and connect habitats, while helping meet the government’s targets to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament and ensure that 16.5% of land area is under tree cover by 2050.
• Defra will provide support to local authorities by sharing detailed ‘how to’ guides for each of the five types of eligible projects. Applications can be made by upper tier local authorities, which include county councils, unitary authorities, metropolitan and London boroughs, and combined authorities, as well as district and city councils. All others are classified as lower tier local authorities. Upper tier local authorities will be able to bid on behalf of lower tier local authorities, local residents, community groups, farmers, and landowners. These groups should get in touch with the tree officer or environmental team in their corresponding upper tier authority to ask them to submit an application on their behalf.

• We have a number of existing Nature for Climate Fund initiatives where local communities can engage with and receive the benefits of local tree planting, including:

• The Community Forests programme which works in and around towns and cities and where local need is greatest.
• The Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF) which enables Local Authorities (LAs) and their partners, including schools, community groups and NGOs, to restore tree cover in urban and rural non-woodland areas.

• The Urban Tree Challenge Fund provides 80% of standard costs for the planting and establishment of trees in urban and peri-urban areas.

• Read more information on the Coronation Living Heritage Fund.
• Read more information on the renaming of the England Coastal Path.
• Read more information on the creation of the King’s Series of Nature Reserves.
• Read more information on the Coronation Woodland.