Tree Futures grants
The deadline for applying for one of The Tree Council’s Tree Futures planting grants is 31 March 2012.The scheme offers help through the Trees for Schools and Community Trees funds. Successful applicants are asked to organise their planting events in conjunction with The Tree Council's National Tree Week.
Any UK school or community group which is planning a project that actively involves children under 16 is eligible to apply.
Grants are up to 75 per cent of planting costs of between £100 and £700. The remaining 25 per cent needs to be secured by the school or organisation.
A teaching and learning resource is sent free to all successful grant applicants.
• Find out more at www.treecouncil.org.uk/grants
Big Tree Plant funding
The Big Tree Plant funding is available for community and civic groups, or other non-profit organisations to establish community-led tree planting projects in areas of England that would benefit most.
The next deadline for applications is 14 March 2012.
In the meantime, the scheme’s administrators can advise you on developing your project proposal.
The trees must be planted in streets or green places open to all to visit or where local people will benefit.
Whoever owns the land must give permission and support to the project, and there must be a plan for aftercare.
• To apply go to www.forestry.gov.uk/england-bigtreeplant.
To contact the Big Tree Plant funding scheme administrators call 0800 856 7984.
Communities Living Sustainably
Big Lottery Fund have just launched a new initiative called Communities Living Sustainably and you can find details here: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
This is a geographically targeted programme which will bring whole communities together to tackle climate change. The aim is for all sections of the community – its residents, businesses, public bodies such as schools, local authorities, PCTs etc. - to work in partnership to develop and deliver integrated local plans which deal with both mitigation activities ( reducing energy) and adaptation activities (tackling fuel/food/water poverty; coping better with severe weather events), all of which have a key role for trees.
Big Lottery have up to £10m available to fund up to 10 communities in England. There will be a development phase during which £10K will be provided for up to 30 communities to develop their delivery plans before Big Lottery make the final decisions on the 10.
Tree Warden networks, partnering with environmental, civic or other groups, might be ideally placed to take advantage of this. Expressions of interest have to be made online by midday on 31st January 2012.
Contact for any questions you may have:
Elaine Warner
Big Lottery Fund Senior Policy Adviser, England
Tel: 0207 211 3746
