The Urban Tree Challenge Fund (UTCF) was developed in response to the Government’s commitment to provide millions of pounds for planting both large and small trees in and around England’s towns and cities. The UTCF supports planting of large ‘standard’ trees and street trees.
Urban trees are said to offer a range of benefits, including temperature moderation, flood risk mitigation, and improved wellbeing – particularly when in close proximity to large populations. The UTCF will contribute to delivering these benefits through the targeted planting thousands of large and small trees and in urban and peri-urban areas.
The fund aims to level-up access to nature across the country, planting trees in socially deprived urban areas with low canopy cover, in proximity to healthcare and educational facilities. It will target projects providing the greatest environmental, social and economic benefits to towns and cities across the country.
The Fund will provide 80% funding of standard costs for planting large trees and their establishment costs for three years following planting. Grants will fund the planting of trees and the first three years of their care to ensure they can flourish into the future.
There is a minimum application value of £10,000.
Applications must schedule tree planting to take place in 2024/25, the last year of the fund.
UTCF will require 20% match-funding by the recipient in either money or labour.
The applicant must have full management control over the land or signed consent from those with management control over the land.
The Urban Tree Challenge Fund Round 6 is open for applications. Those wishing to plant trees in 2024/25 (the last year of the fund) must submit their applications by 30 June 2024 (23:59 BST).
Those wishing to apply should submit an Expression of Interest and return to [email protected]