The Tree Council is offering grants of between £250 and £2,500 for schools, constituted community groups and charities, community interest companies, Tree Warden networks, and other organisations across the UK to deliver tree-planting projects during the 2024/25 Winter planting season (between the end of November 2024 and early February 2025).
Through the Branching Out Fund, groups can purchase:
- Bare root, UK-sourced and grown, native trees of an appropriate size (priority will be given to younger trees that will establish better)
- UK-sourced and grown, bare-root whips (saplings) and cell-grown (root trainer) stock for hedging projects (between 40-120cm height)
- Hedgerow trees
- Orchards, such as fruit trees on semi-vigorous, vigorous, and very vigorous rootstocks.
- Cardboard/bioplastic tree/hedge guards
- Non-plastic ties
- Stakes (coppiced material such as chestnut or hazel is preferred, although machined softwood will also be considered)
- Mulch
- Non-peat-based soil improvers if needed
The following may also be considered:
- Non-native tree varieties if appropriate to the setting
- Non-native varieties and species that are chosen with climate change adaptation and resilience in mind
- Fruit trees on dwarfing rootstock if the setting is appropriate
- Trees in containers/raised beds if the reason is adequately explained and supported by a robust and comprehensive irrigation and aftercare plan
- More robust and costly guards if the setting justifies it
- Other project resources to support tree establishment such as irrigation equipment like watering cans/irrigation aids, and PPE
Priority will be given to applicants that have strong community engagement embedded from the beginning of the planting project.
Deadline: 1st December 2024
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