Tree Council, in partnership with Network Rail, is offering grants of between £2,500 and £15,000 for community groups, schools, charities, community interest companies (CICs), and other organisations across the UK to deliver sustainable community tree planting projects that benefit local people and communities.

The Community Tree Planting Fund will support:

Projects with strong community involvement in their design and delivery.
The involvement of community volunteers in planting.
Projects located close to communities, ie villages, towns, cities, urban areas, close to public spaces, or public rights of way.
Projects that demonstrate robust establishment and aftercare plans to give trees the best chance of successful establishment.
Projects located in the North West, Central, Eastern, and Southern Network Rail Regions.
Projects that will achieve a biodiversity net gain on completion.
Proposals from partnerships or consortiums.
Projects involving the younger generation that demonstrate an element of training, skills development, or enterprise.
River and riparian-themed projects, including flood prevention or SUDS in urban communities.

Funding can be used for bare-root, UK-sourced, and grown native trees of an appropriate size for the projects (preference will be given to younger trees), bare-root whips (saplings), and cell-grown (root trainer) stock for hedging projects (40 to 120cm in height), hedgerow trees, and orchards. Non-native varieties may be considered if appropriate to the setting or chosen to consider climate change adaption and resilience. Priority will be given to trees planted in the ground, however, trees planted in containers or raised beds may be considered.

Applications can be submitted at any time.

For more information, please visit Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund - The Tree Council