eAlert: 13 June 2022
Published 15 June 2022
Applies to England
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1. New fund to accelerate Local Authorities’ tree planting ambitions
1.1 A £7.8 million fund to support Local Authorities with the new staff and expertise needed to accelerate woodland and tree planting plans opens today (Monday 13 June).
The Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund, delivered by the Forestry Commission in partnership with DEFRA, will provide Local Authorities with financial support to boost capacity and resource, helping Local Authorities to employ, train up and bring on board professional expertise to drive tree planting and woodland creation commitments.
Successful Local Authorities will be awarded up to £150,000 (per Local Authority) to establish the new people resource needed to develop planting plans and applications for capital funding in 23/24 and 24/25. This could include new members of staff, such as project managers, woodland creation officers, community engagement officers, funding consultants, or specialist advisors, such as landscape architects or archaeologists.
All upper tier authorities (county councils, unitary councils, London boroughs, metropolitan boroughs, combined authorities) are eligible to apply.
Local Authorities will be invited to outline the measures they propose to increase capacity and in return identify the area of new woodland or numbers of trees they will commit to plant by winter season 24/25.
For more information, visit GOV.UK page: Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund or read our latest blog to find out more about the fund and application process.
Deadline for applications is 5:00pm Friday 8 July 2022.
Please ensure that you have registered at Defra eTendering Portal (bravosolution.co.uk) to be able to complete an application.
For any enquiries, please contact WCAF@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
2. Successful applicants announced for the Trees Call to Action Fund
2.1 Along with Defra and the National Lottery Heritage Fund £6 million has been awarded to a range of projects across England
The Trees Call to Action Fund is supporting projects which are expanding woodland cover, providing jobs and addressing the forestry sector’s skills shortage, and increasing access to nature.
Grants of between £250,000 and £500,000 will support 12 projects across England they include:
- six new Woodland Creation Partnerships enabling large-scale woodland creation across rural and urban areas
- two projects growing and upskilling the forestry sector workforce
- three projects encouraging community engagement with and access to trees and woodlands
- a project by the Institute of Chartered Foresters to train the next generation of forestry leaders and offer an in-depth training course to ensure the forestry sector has the capacity, skills and knowledge to manage the trees and woodlands of the future
- a project that will advise and support landowners in woodland management and creation
All funded projects will build sector-wide capacity to deliver the England Trees Action Plan, the Government’s long-term plan for our trees, forests and woodlands. Funding for the Trees Call to Action Fund has come from the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund. You can read more in our press release: Woodland projects across England to receive funding for jobs, training and increasing tree cover.
3. Join our woodlands for water webinar!
3.1 Find out about the far-reaching benefits trees have for land, the environment and water.
Read more about woodland, water and wildlife in our blog: Right tree, right place, to support water and wildlife.
Inspiring Woodland Creation Webinar
Discover how planting trees can help reduce flooding, improve water quality, and support biodiversity.
Tuesday, 14 June 2022. 9:30 till 11:00 am. Book via eventbrite.
4. Tree Production Capital Grant – submit your applications now
4.1 The deadline for applications is 23.55 on 30 June 2022.
If you are a tree nurseries or suppliers then this fund could help you invest in projects which improve, expand, automate or mechanise operations. This will support efforts to build nursery capacity and grow long-term tree seed and sapling supply – delivering on a commitment within the England Trees Action Plan, the Government’s long-term plan for the nation’s trees, woodlands and forests.
Up to £8.8 million of funding is available through the Tree Production Capital Grant, subject to sufficient high-quality bids being received.
For more information on eligibility and how to apply see our GOV.UK page: Tree Production Capital Grant and read our blog: Introducing the new Tree Production Capital Grant.
For more information or to ask a specific question contact us at: tpcg@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
You can also watch our recent webinar about the grant and see answers to customers questions.
5. Phytophthora Pluvialis – new plant heath requirements introduced
5.1 Find out where the new demarcated areas are following further findings of the tree pathogen Phytophthora pluvialis.
The Forestry Commission is urging woodland managers, landowners and the forestry industry to remain vigilant following further findings of Phytophthora pluvialis in areas across England.
A new demarcated area in relation to a finding in a woodland in Shropshire and revisions to the existing Notice for the demarcated area in Surrey which are minor grammatical changes for accuracy have been added to our press release: Forestry Commission takes robust action to combat spread of tree disease and GOV.UK page.
Key symptoms to look out for are lesions on the stem, branch or roots. Any sightings should be reported to the Forestry Commission via its TreeAlert online portal.
Phytophthora pluvialis is a fungus-like pathogen known to affect a variety of tree species, including western hemlock, Douglas fir, tanoak and several pine species (in particular radiata pine). It is reported to cause needle cast (where needles turn brown and fall off), shoot dieback, and lesions on the stem, branches, and roots.