Hundreds of thousands of trees will be planted in communities across England
thanks to funding through the Nature for Climate Fund, announced by Defra and
the Forestry Commission as National Tree Week launches.
Over £12 million will be allocated to the successful applicants to four
funds supporting tree planting efforts for future generations.
A total of 260,000 trees will be planted outside of woodlands as part of the Local
Authority Treescapes Fund with 139 local authorities awarded a share of the now
£4.4 million pot across 42 projects. Projects will support a variety of ways to
get trees in the ground, from natural regeneration and traditional planting to
community engagement.
Local residents, schools and environmental groups will come together to
plant trees in shared spaces, with training provided to support community
groups. These initiatives will restore trees to non-wooded areas such as
riverbanks, along hedgerows, beside roads and footpaths, and within vacant
community spaces – areas where treescapes are often highly degraded due to
neglect, disease or historical decline.
Urban forests make our towns and cities safer, healthier and more pleasant
places to be, helping boost people’s wellbeing as well as contributing towards
efforts to tackle climate change. 46 projects in England planting almost 25,000
trees will be supported through the third round of the Urban Tree Challenge
Fund, building upon the 134,000 trees already planted through this fund in
deprived urban areas.
Also announced today, the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds
will distribute almost £700,000 to 17 projects restoring biodiversity in
vulnerable natural habitats, helping woodlands adapt to a changing climate and
aiding their recovery from the impacts of pests and diseases.
Projects will develop new business models and supply chains for ash timber,
helping to restore woodlands damaged by ash dieback. Projects will also improve
access to woodlands to allow for active management where previously not
possible, whilst engaging with forestry businesses and conservation
organisations on woodland management.
In addition, the Tree Production Innovation Fund will make over £1 million
available to 16 innovative projects striving to increase and diversify our
domestic tree production. Those selected include collaborations from
researchers, nurseries, seed suppliers and industry, such as the Future Trees
Trust, the University of Oxford and Maelor Forest Nurseries.
These projects will explore a range of novel production methods including
the establishment of clonal seed orchards for oak, use of AI in advanced
propagation systems and DNA finger-printing technologies for the genetic
tracing of Forest Reproductive Materials (FRM), respectively.
Forestry Minister, Lord Goldsmith, said: “This targeted package of funding
will help us to build back greener and regenerate natural spaces across the
country for the benefit of all.
“Trees are at the heart of our ambitious environmental
programme, as we work to deliver on the promises we made at COP26 and treble
tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament. But at the local level,
trees and woodlands are the lifeblood of communities, essential to supporting
wellbeing, reducing pollution and improving people’s quality of life.”
Forestry Commission Chair, Sir William Worsley said: “These inspiring
initiatives will help to stem the tide of biodiversity loss and promote
resilient tree growth and management across the UK, whilst helping to
futureproof our natural world amidst a changing climate.”
