Councils secure share of £2.9m tree fund from Woodland Trust

Councils across the UK are to receive a share of a £2.9m “emergency tree fund” to help them plant trees and create green spaces in their communities.

The funding from the Woodland Trust forms part of its ambition to establish 50 million more trees by 2025 to help tackle the climate and nature crisis, creating new woods and working with government, businesses, landowners and the public to achieve the goal.

The nature charity said it is providing funding to local councils at a time when finances are tight to help create more green spaces and woodland which people have found valuable in the pandemic.

In the first phase of the project, the trust is working with 11 authority areas across the UK, including Glasgow, which is hosting UN climate talks in November, and Sheffield council, which has transformed its approach since the controversial felling of street trees several years ago.

The charity said many local authorities have declared climate and nature emergencies and set out ambitious tree-planting targets – and the funding is aimed at helping make their green projects a reality.

It hopes to expand the scheme further in 2022.

John Tucker said: “The trust’s Emergency Tree Fund has the power to inspire tree-planting and woodland creation and galvanise the need to treasure trees and green spaces in their neighbourhoods across the UK.

“What the country’s fight against Covid has shown is how communities have come together in a time of crisis.

“As the pandemic hopefully abates, getting outside and planting, maintaining and enjoying trees will be a way for this spirit to be harnessed once again in a different but a very important way – to tackle the climate and nature crises which also affects us all.”

Funding

Edinburgh Council – £298,055

The council is aiming for the city to become a “one million tree” city by 2030.

Glasgow City Region – £400,003

Eight councils have come together to create the Clyde Climate Forest to increase urban tree cover from 16% to 20%.

Sheffield City Council – £183,319

Sheffield’s “Treevitalise” project will engage communities in protecting and restoring woodland, boost the community forestry team, and protect trees outside woods.

Belfast City Council – £289,585

The council aims to plant one million trees over the next 15 years.

Wokingham Council – £300,000

The Berkshire local authority is looking to plant more than 250,000 trees across the borough.

Cornwall Council – £293,965

The council has already launched its Forest of Cornwall funding, which will help fulfil its aim to create 8,000 hectares of woodland over the coming years.

Devon County Council – £297,349

The local authority wants to create a “Devon net zero”, including measures to plant trees on its land, creating a tree strategy for the county, and tackling tree disease.

Cardiff Council – £228,862