A brand-new funding initiative to increase tree planting and natural regeneration in local communities has been announced by the government today (Friday), with £2.7 million available this year, building the pipeline of projects for community planting in future years.
The 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. Trees in these settings are particularly valuable as they can provide the greatest levels of benefit to ecosystems and society, such as carbon absorption, flood protection and support for biodiversity, as well as connecting fragmented habitats.
The fund will help the nation build back greener from the pandemic and will target landscapes that have been neglected in the past, ecologically damaged or affected by tree diseases like ash dieback – with ash being the most common species of tree found in non-woodland locations.
Grants are available for local authorities – including the Isle of Wight Council. Local authorities are encouraged to work with other organisations, NGOs, community groups and private individuals to deliver the most exciting projects. Bids will be accepted from early April 2021 and successful applicants will be informed by the end of July.
Forestry Minister Lord Goldsmith said:
“I am delighted to announce this new fund, which will get trees planted and land regenerated for the benefit of local communities and nature. This is an opportunity for communities to work with their local authorities to identify land, design projects and apply for funds. Trees and land restoration are central to our plans for nature recovery and to get to net zero emissions, and we know how much value people place on trees and green spaces in their local communities.”
An excellent idea – now we have plenty of places for more trees to be planted – penny feathers and everyother ridiculous housing plan for a start.
The money grabbing developers should be funding tree planting in the areas they are destroying, five trees for every house built.
I am sure the council will manage to plant the trees before they give planning permission
to build on top of them.
First place to plant trees is on the 100 acres taken from Parkhurst Forest over 100 years ago that was used as fields for Camp Hill Prison. Give something back for us all for a change.
Trees do produce a lot off the oxygen we breathe and we all love breathing got to be a good thing
When “establishing” more trees beside roads, I trust they will consider the standards of Island drivers and not plant them too near the tarmac.