Coetiroedd Bach: Tiny Forests in Wales Grant Scheme

Deadline: 10-May-23

Do you own or manage land in Wales, or have written permission from the landowner to apply to this scheme? Are you looking to create a Coetir Bach/Tiny Forest that adheres to Earthwatch’s principles? Can you involve the community with the creation and management of your woodland site? Do you require a grant of up to £40,000 for one site, or up to £250k for multiple sites? If you answered yes to these questions, then the Coetiroedd Bach/Tiny Forests in Wales scheme is for you.

The need to aid nature’s recovery is urgent. Looking after nature and helping people to understand its importance has never been more relevant. Coetiroedd Bach / Tiny Forests in Wales is a new grant scheme as part of the National Forest programme.

This scheme is for organisations, communities and individuals with ownership or management control of small parcels of land, who want to create new small woodlands managed in collaboration with the local community using the Tiny Forests concept.

Areas of Interests

urban areas that lack green space
areas that will enable connection of natural space

The scheme will offers

Grants of up to £40,000 per site. Applicants may make one application to cover several sites but each site may not exceed a cost of £40k, and the maximum grant available per application is £250k. Applicants may not submit more than one application.
up to 100% funding
comprehensive training from Earthwatch Europe to plan and create a Coetir Bach / Tiny Forest (7.5 hours over 3 sessions plus ongoing coaching and support) (essential)
membership of the Tiny Forest network led by Earthwatch Europe (essential)
until the end of March 2025 to deliver the project
capital and revenue funding
advice and support from Woodland Liaison Officers to plan your project

Eligibility Criteria

The scheme is open to anyone who owns or manages land in Wales, including not-for-profit organisations and private owners. You must have full management control of the land, or written permission from the landowner.
You can make an application in partnership with other organisations, or on behalf of a landowner, but the partnership must be legally binding and the lead partner clearly identified. You will also need to have the right permissions, licences and consents in place to undertake activity.
Your project must:
- create a Coetir Bach / Tiny Forest that fully meets the Tiny Forest criteria
- deliver accessible woodlands for all to enjoy
- involve local residents, volunteers, local authorities or schools
- maintain the Tiny Forest using a “tree keeper team” of volunteers for at least 2 years after the project has finished
- meet the needs of local people as a public space and contribute to ecosystem services within the local area
- demonstrate multiple benefits spanning environmental, social, economic and cultural wellbeing
Your site must:
- Be approximately 200m2 for the actual Tiny Forest, plus have space for heavy machinery to do preparation work, so the total space may be up to 500m2.
- This area can be of any shape/orientation, but the forest must not be narrower than 4m across at any given point. Long thin plots of land like hedgerow are not suitable for Tiny Forests.
- Have no underground infrastructure. The soil typically needs to be excavated to 1m depth, and you must respect utility buffer zones.
- Have no overhead infrastructure. The trees could grow to 20m or more.
- Be accessible for large machinery. A mini digger is needed for soil preparation, plus truck deliveries of mulching material and other soil supplements.
- Have a water access point. The trees may need watering during first 2 years of maintenance, so either a water access point must be located nearby or access for a vehicle and water bowser to the site must be possible.
- Not obstruct people’s right of way. This is because the forest becomes very dense and impassable unless a specific pathway is incorporated into the design.
- be easily accessible to users such as local residents, school children, and employees
- not be designated as sensitive in any way such as an SSSI, SAC, Ramsar or others
- be an open area – they do not want to remove trees to plant new ones! Some scrub or low vegetation is fine, as are trees on the edge of the proposed site as these could potentially be incorporated into the design.
- be fenced at least for the first 3 years with access through a gate