Tree Council reopens Trees Outside Woodland planting fund

£2.5 million Defra fund targets urban and community tree planting

The Tree Council has opened a £2.5 million grant fund for tree, hedgerow, and orchard projects outside traditional woodland areas. Backed by Defra, the Trees Outside Woodland fund represents a significant increase from previous years. It offers grants between £10,000 and £40,000 to local authorities and larger registered charities working across England.

This marks the second year of the programme. However, the funding available has doubled compared to earlier rounds. The initiative reflects a broader shift in government tree planting policy. Instead of concentrating solely on new forests and large woodland sites, the focus now includes streets, parks, community spaces, and urban areas where people live and work.

For businesses involved in public sector contracts, property management, or community partnerships, this represents a practical opportunity. Projects funded through this scheme will create new green infrastructure in towns and cities. Consequently, they may affect planning decisions, procurement requirements, and corporate sustainability commitments over the coming years.

How the fund operates and who can apply

The Trees Outside Woodland fund specifically supports projects that plant trees, hedgerows, and orchards in publicly accessible locations. These include urban streets, public parks, housing estates, school grounds, and similar community settings. The aim is to bring trees into everyday environments rather than remote rural areas.

Only local authorities and larger registered charities operating in England can apply. Smaller community groups and schools cannot access this particular fund directly. Nevertheless, the Tree Council runs a separate scheme called the Branching Out Fund. That programme offers smaller grants between £250 and £2,500 for community organisations and has its own application deadline of 19 July 2026.

Applications follow a two-stage process. Initially, organisations must submit an expression of interest outlining their project. If selected, they then provide full documentation before receiving funding. This staged approach allows the Tree Council to assess project viability early and support applicants through the detailed planning phase.

All trees purchased through the fund must come from nurseries holding Plant Healthy certification or be obtained using a Ready to Plant voucher. This requirement ensures biosecurity standards are met and reduces the risk of importing pests or diseases that could damage existing tree populations.

Why this approach has gained momentum

The current fund builds directly on evidence gathered through the Shared Outcomes Fund. That five-year pilot project tested experimental planting methods across multiple local authorities. Research from the pilot found that trees planted in non-woodland settings achieved a 60% survival rate. While lower than survival rates in protected woodland sites, this figure validated the concept of expanding tree cover into urban and community spaces.

Defra has recently concluded several related programmes. The Nature for Climate Fund ended in March 2026 after planting more than 20,000 hectares of new woodland. Meanwhile, the Local Authority Treescapes Fund distributed £4.4 million to plant 260,000 trees in urban and peri-urban locations. These initiatives demonstrate a sustained commitment to increasing tree cover across different landscape types.

The shift towards planting outside traditional woodlands addresses specific climate and environmental challenges. Urban areas experience higher temperatures during heatwaves. They also face increased flood risk from surface water runoff. Trees planted in streets and parks help mitigate both issues. In addition, they improve air quality by capturing particulate matter and provide green space access for communities with limited contact with nature.

For businesses, this trend matters because it influences planning policy, local environmental strategies, and corporate sustainability expectations. Companies operating in areas where these projects are delivered may find themselves working alongside new green infrastructure. Furthermore, public sector contracts increasingly reference biodiversity net gain and local environmental improvement as evaluation criteria.

Funding levels and project scale requirements

The £2.5 million total represents a substantial increase from previous rounds. Each successful project receives between £10,000 and £40,000. This range is deliberately set to support larger, strategic planting schemes rather than small-scale initiatives. Projects must demonstrate clear planning, community involvement, and long-term maintenance arrangements.

Applicants need to show how their proposals will deliver multiple benefits. These include biodiversity enhancement, improved air quality, reduced flood risk, and social value for local communities. Projects should also consider how trees will be protected and maintained once planted. Simply purchasing and planting stock is insufficient without ongoing care arrangements.

The fund complements other Tree Council programmes operating at different scales. Smaller community groups can access the Branching Out Fund for projects requiring less capital. Conversely, organisations planning even larger woodland creation projects may need to explore alternative Defra schemes or partnership funding arrangements. The Trees Outside Woodland fund occupies a middle ground designed specifically for local authorities and established charities with delivery capacity.

Applications are assessed on project quality, deliverability, and alignment with the fund’s objectives. Organisations that submit early and demonstrate thorough planning are more likely to succeed. As a result, potential applicants should begin preparation now rather than waiting until closer to any published deadline.

Essential details for potential applicants

Several key points apply to organisations considering an application:

• The total fund stands at £2.5 million, backed by Defra and administered by the Tree Council for projects across England only.
• Individual grants range from £10,000 to £40,000, targeting larger registered charities and local authorities with delivery experience.
• Projects must focus on trees, hedgerows, or orchards in publicly accessible community spaces such as streets, parks, and housing estates.
• All tree stock must come from nurseries holding Plant Healthy certification or be purchased using Ready to Plant vouchers to meet biosecurity standards.
• A two-stage application process begins with an expression of interest, followed by detailed documentation for shortlisted projects.
• Successful projects should deliver measurable benefits including biodiversity improvement, air quality enhancement, flood risk reduction, and community wellbeing outcomes.
• The Shared Outcomes Fund pilot achieved a 60% survival rate for trees in non-woodland settings, providing evidence that informed this expanded programme.
• This fund complements other recent Defra initiatives including the Nature for Climate Fund and Local Authority Treescapes Fund, which together have planted hundreds of thousands of trees.

What this means for businesses and public sector organisations

The expansion of tree planting into urban and community settings carries practical implications for businesses operating in affected areas. Property developers, facilities managers, and contractors working on public sector projects should expect growing requirements around green infrastructure and biodiversity.

Many local authorities will use this funding to deliver environmental improvements that form part of wider climate strategies. Consequently, businesses tendering for council contracts may face questions about how their operations support or complement local tree planting efforts. This is particularly relevant for construction, grounds maintenance, and property management sectors.

For businesses pursuing net zero targets or carbon reporting under PPN 06/21, local tree projects may offer partnership opportunities. While purchased carbon credits remain the primary compliance mechanism, supporting community tree planting can strengthen corporate sustainability narratives. However, these projects should not be treated as direct carbon offsets without proper verification and measurement protocols.

Supply chain considerations also apply. Companies sourcing tree stock, landscaping materials, or maintenance services should note the Plant Healthy certification requirement. Suppliers unable to demonstrate biosecurity standards may find themselves excluded from publicly funded projects. Therefore, businesses in the horticultural and landscaping sectors should review their certification status now.

The focus on publicly accessible spaces means planted trees will be visible to customers, employees, and local communities. Businesses with premises near funded projects might consider how to align their own sustainability initiatives with local environmental improvements. For example, employee volunteering programmes or matched funding arrangements could support community tree planting while building local relationships.

Larger registered charities eligible for the fund should assess whether they have suitable projects in development. Those already working on community green space improvements may find this funding accelerates delivery. However, the requirement for long-term maintenance plans means organisations must commit resources beyond the initial planting phase.

Related policy context and future developments

The Trees Outside Woodland fund sits within a broader Defra tree planting ecosystem. The Tree Production Innovation Fund has distributed over £1 million to support nurseries and innovation in tree stock production. This addresses supply chain constraints that previously limited planting programmes. By ensuring sufficient high-quality stock is available, Defra aims to sustain planting rates over multiple years.

The Nature for Climate Fund concluded in March 2026 after delivering more than 20,000 hectares of new woodland. That programme focused primarily on larger woodland creation projects on agricultural and marginal land. In contrast, the Trees Outside Woodland fund targets smaller spaces integrated into existing communities. Together, these initiatives form a two-track approach to increasing England’s tree cover.

Local authorities have played a central role in recent tree planting programmes. The Local Authority Treescapes Fund allocated £4.4 million specifically for urban and peri-urban projects, resulting in 260,000 new trees. This established councils as key delivery partners for government planting targets. The Trees Outside Woodland fund continues that relationship by restricting eligibility to local authorities and larger charities with comparable delivery capacity.

Biosecurity requirements have become increasingly stringent across all Defra tree programmes. The Plant Healthy certification and Ready to Plant voucher systems aim to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases such as ash dieback, oak processionary moth, and Xylella. These threats pose significant risks to existing tree populations. Therefore, all publicly funded planting now includes strict sourcing requirements regardless of project scale.

For organisations tracking environmental policy, this fund signals a continued government commitment to tree planting beyond 2026. While specific future funding rounds remain unannounced, the success of current programmes and the evidence base from pilot projects suggest similar schemes will continue. Businesses and public sector organisations should therefore integrate tree planting considerations into medium-term sustainability planning rather than treating current opportunities as isolated events.

Those interested in the commercial and compliance aspects of sustainability programmes can explore ESG compliance support services and carbon reporting frameworks aligned with public sector requirements.

Where to find further information

The Tree Council website provides full application guidance, eligibility criteria, and downloadable resources for the Trees Outside Woodland fund. Organisations considering applications should review these materials carefully before beginning the expression of interest process.

Defra publishes detailed information about its tree planting programmes, targets, and policy context through official government channels. This includes updates on related initiatives such as the Tree Production Innovation Fund and broader environmental improvement schemes.

The Nature for Climate Fund documentation provides useful context on how government tree planting policy has evolved. Although that specific fund has now concluded, the published materials explain the strategic thinking behind current programmes.

Local authorities considering applications may also find value in reviewing case studies from the Shared Outcomes Fund pilot. These demonstrate practical approaches to urban tree planting, community engagement, and long-term maintenance planning in real-world settings.

Organisations seeking broader sustainability guidance can access training and advisory support through professional development programmes focused on environmental compliance and practical implementation of net zero commitments.