Branching Out, The Tree Council’s grants programme for community groups, schools, small registered charities, and Tree Warden Networks seeking to establish trees, hedgerows, and orchards in the 2024/25 planting season is now open for applications.
The fund provides grants ranging from £250 to £2,500 in value – with faster decisions for those applying for funds below £500. To find out if your group is eligible, please read the Application Guidance.
Applying is straightforward, with lots of supplementary information available, and applicants will be supported throughout the process by The Tree Council’s Grants team.
The Tree Council Grants Officer, Geraldine Creaven said: “Branching Out presents a fantastic opportunity for schools and community groups large and small to get their spades in the ground and start establishing life-enhancing and biodiversity boosting trees, hedgerows, and orchards in their neighbourhoods.
“Every year we’re blown away by the diversity and quality of applications to the fund. Successful applicants are often those that demonstrate strong community involvement, especially engagement with young people and a broad cross-section of the community.”
The Tree Council provides comprehensive advice around the types of trees to plant and the protection they will need. The focus is on planting a variety of tree species, bare root, with cardboard or bioplastic protection.
Last winter Branching Out supported over 120 planting projects in communities and schools throughout the UK, from the Highlands to Cornwall, and County Armagh to Norfolk. The 8,500 trees and 5.3km of hedgerow established will deliver new havens for wildlife and green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Melton Vale Sixth Form College, in Leicestershire, held a ‘planting week’ with students and the wider community to plant 200 metres of hedgerow along the southern boundary of their site. The new hedgerow will connect to an existing wildflower meadow, creating new habitats for a range of species and an important learning resource to support the college’s environmental science education.
In Cheshire, a volunteer-led group from the town of Congleton is now two-thirds of the way to their impressive target of planting 30,000 trees and hedgerow whips in their town – one for every resident. Working closely with the local town council, schools and youth groups, and with support from Branching Out, Trees for Congleton planted a further 81 trees, 1,340 hedgerow whips and 21 orchard trees.
Branching Out is accepting grant applications now, with a closing date of midnight on 1 December 2024. All projects should be planned for the 2024/25 planting season. Successful applicants are usually informed within five to six weeks, although this is likely to reduce for grants below £500, previous applicants and Tree Warden Networks.
To find out more, and begin your planting journey, please visit
treecouncil.org.uk/grants-and-guidance/our-grants/branching-out-fund
