New Tree Fund for Local Communities (England)18th March 2021

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has announced a new funding initiative to increase tree planting and natural regeneration in local communities.

The £2.7 million 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.

Grants of between £50,000 and £300,000 will be available for local authorities across England, working together with community groups, volunteers, and non-governmental organisations to target landscapes that have been neglected in the past, ecologically damaged or affected by tree diseases.

Applications will be accepted from unitary and top tier local authorities in England:

• 25 County Councils (upper tier)
• 32 London Boroughs (unitary)
• 36 Metropolitan Boroughs (unitary)
• 56 Unitary authorities (unitary)
• 2 Sui Generis authorities – City of London Corporation and Isles of Scilly (unitary)

Bids will be accepted from early April 2021 and successful applicants will be informed by the end of July 2021.