The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a new fund to increase tree planting and natural regeneration in local communities.
The Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF) is part of the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund and will directly contribute to achieving tree planting targets.
This fund is aimed at establishing more trees in non-woodland settings such as in riverbanks, hedgerows, parklands, urban areas, beside roads and footpaths, in copses and shelterbelts, including neglected, disused and vacant community spaces.
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.
Applications will be accepted from unitary and top tier local authorities in England.
Local authorities are strongly encouraged to work with other organisations, NGOs, community groups and private individuals to deliver tree planting and natural regenerations.
£2.7 million will be available this year and it is expected that up to 50 grants worth £50,000 to £300,000 will be available.
The fund will open in early April. More information on the application process will be updated when available.
