134,000 trees to be planted thanks to funding

More than 50 projects have been awarded a share of a £10 million pot to increase tree numbers in urban areas through small-scale planting projects.

The government is committed to plant 30,000 hectares of trees a year across the UK by 2025. Now, 50 projects led by community and volunteer groups, councils and individuals will use funding from the second round  of the Forestry Commission’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund to plant more than 84,000 trees in towns and cities across England.

The new trees will provide benefits to health and wellbeing, connect people with the outdoors, improve biodiversity, as well as play a crucial role in the fight against climate change.

The announcement means that there will be a combined total of up to 134,000 new trees planted across England’s towns and cities, which surpasses the Fund’s original target to plant 130,000 trees.

Sir William Worsley, chair of the Forestry Commission, said: “Community tree planting is a passion of mine which is why I am so excited to see projects like these benefitting from our Urban Tree Challenge Fund. Trees give life to our streets and our parks, help improve the health of communities, and provide homes for precious wildlife, and the thousands of new trees that will be planted will bring many benefits for generations to come.”