Apply now for Trees Outside Woodland Fund (United Kingdom)

The Trees Outside Woodland Fund provides grants of £10,000 to £40,000 for not-for-profit tree planting projects that create or enhance green spaces outside traditional woodland areas in England. The 2026/27 fund supports trees and eligible capital items, with projects required to comply with biosecure sourcing requirements and be completed, with reporting submitted, by 5 March 2027.

What Is the Trees Outside Woodland Fund?

The Trees Outside Woodland Fund is a partnership initiative between The Tree Council and Defra supporting tree planting outside conventional woodland areas across England.

The fund is intended to increase tree cover while creating or improving green spaces that benefit:

Local communities.
Wildlife and biodiversity.
Urban and rural environments.
Climate resilience.
The wider natural environment.

The programme focuses specifically on trees outside woodland, meaning projects can establish trees in community spaces and other suitable landscapes rather than creating traditional forests.

Why It Matters

Trees planted outside woodland can provide important environmental and community benefits.

Well-designed tree planting projects can:

Improve local green spaces.
Support biodiversity and wildlife.
Increase access to nature.
Improve the appearance and usability of community areas.
Provide shade and environmental benefits.
Strengthen local ecological networks.
Contribute to greener and more resilient communities.

The fund therefore supports projects that combine tree planting, environmental improvement and community benefit.

How Much Funding Is Available?

Eligible applicants can request:

£10,000 to £40,000 per application.

Funding can be used for trees and eligible supporting capital items required for planting and establishment.

Applicants should ensure that proposed expenditure is directly connected with delivering the tree planting project.

Who Is Eligible?

Projects must meet the fund’s eligibility requirements.

Eligible projects must:

Be not-for-profit.
Be located in England.
Involve eligible tree planting outside woodland.
Meet the fund’s biosecure tree sourcing requirements.
Obtain the necessary landowner permissions.
Meet insurance requirements for planting activities.

Applicants should confirm all detailed eligibility conditions before submitting an application.

Landowner Permission and Insurance

Applicants have important responsibilities before planting begins.

Written Landowner Permission

Written permission must be obtained from the landowner for each planting site before planting takes place.

This helps ensure that funded trees are planted on land where the applicant has the appropriate authorization.

Public Liability Insurance

Applicants must have public liability insurance for every planting event.

Organisations should therefore ensure that their insurance arrangements adequately cover the proposed planting activities before implementation.

What Can the Grant Fund?

The Trees Outside Woodland Fund can support trees and a range of sustainable supporting capital items.

Eligible items include:

Trees.
Sustainable tree guards.
Robust guards for larger urban trees.
Non-plastic tree ties.
Stakes, preferably made from coppiced material.
Organic mulch.
Biodegradable mulch.
Soil amendments such as biochar.
Fencing where necessary.

The emphasis is on materials that support sustainable tree establishment and avoid unnecessary reliance on fossil-fuel-derived plastic products.

What Cannot Be Funded?

Several materials and activities are specifically excluded.

The fund does not support:

Plastic tree guards.
Plastic tree ties.
Mulch mats derived from fossil fuels.
Chemical weed control.
Herbicides.
Peat-based products.

Applicants should check every proposed project cost carefully to ensure that it complies with the fund’s environmental and procurement requirements.

Biosecure Tree Sourcing Requirements

Funded projects must comply with biosecure tree sourcing requirements.

Biosecurity is important because movement and sourcing of trees can introduce pests and diseases that threaten established trees and ecosystems.

Applicants should therefore ensure that their tree suppliers and proposed planting stock meet the applicable requirements before purchasing trees.

How to Apply

Applicants should develop their project around a clear planting plan and demonstrate that all required conditions can be met.

Step 1: Confirm Project Eligibility

Check that the proposed project:

Is not-for-profit.
Is located in England.
Involves tree planting outside woodland.
Creates or enhances green space.
Can be delivered within the required timeframe.

Step 2: Identify Planting Sites

Determine where the trees will be planted and confirm that each location is suitable for the proposed project.

Consider:

Land ownership.
Existing land use.
Tree species suitability.
Long-term maintenance.
Community and environmental benefits.
Biodiversity considerations.

Step 3: Obtain Landowner Permissions

Secure written permission from the relevant landowner for every planting site before planting.

Keep these permissions as part of the project’s supporting documentation.

Step 4: Develop a Sustainable Planting Plan

Select appropriate trees and supporting materials.

The plan should account for:

Tree establishment.
Long-term survival.
Local environmental conditions.
Protection from damage.
Sustainable materials.
Biodiversity benefits.

Step 5: Prepare the Project Budget

Build a detailed budget covering eligible trees and supporting capital items.

Avoid including excluded materials such as plastic guards, plastic ties, fossil-fuel-derived mulch mats, herbicides or peat-based products.

Step 6: Check Insurance Requirements

Confirm that the organisation has appropriate public liability insurance for each planting event.

Step 7: Confirm Biosecurity Compliance

Ensure that proposed tree stock meets the fund’s biosecure sourcing requirements.

Step 8: Plan for Completion and Reporting

All funded activities must be completed and reporting submitted by:

5 March 2027

Applicants should establish a realistic planting and reporting schedule that allows sufficient time for completion.

Key Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by clearly explaining:

Where the trees will be planted.
Why the site needs additional trees or green space.
How the project will benefit communities.
How the planting will support wildlife and biodiversity.
Why the selected tree species are appropriate.
How trees will be protected and established.
How sustainable materials will be used.
How landowner permission and insurance requirements will be satisfied.
How the project will be completed before the deadline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Proposing sites without confirmed landowner permission.
Using plastic tree guards or ties in the budget.
Including fossil-fuel-derived mulch mats.
Budgeting for herbicides or chemical weed control.
Using peat-based products.
Failing to demonstrate biosecure tree sourcing.
Forgetting public liability insurance requirements.
Proposing activities that cannot be completed by 5 March 2027.
Treating tree planting as the only outcome without explaining community or environmental benefits.

Trees Outside Woodland Fund at a Glance

Fund: Trees Outside Woodland Fund
Planting season: 2026/27
Location: England
Funding amount: £10,000–£40,000 per application
Applicant type: Not-for-profit organisations/projects
Purpose: Tree planting outside traditional woodland
Funded items: Trees and eligible supporting capital items
Biosecurity: Required
Landowner permission: Written permission required for every planting site
Insurance: Public liability insurance required for every planting event
Completion and reporting deadline: 5 March 2027
Plastic tree guards/ties: Not eligible
Fossil-fuel-derived mulch mats: Not eligible
Chemical weed control/herbicides: Not eligible
Peat-based products: Not eligible

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Trees Outside Woodland Fund?

It is a partnership initiative between The Tree Council and Defra that supports tree planting projects outside traditional woodland areas in England during the 2026/27 planting season.

How much funding can applicants receive?

Applicants can apply for between £10,000 and £40,000 per application.

Who can apply?

The fund supports not-for-profit projects in England that meet the programme’s eligibility and tree sourcing requirements.

What can funding be used for?

Funding can support trees and eligible capital items such as sustainable tree guards, non-plastic ties, stakes, organic or biodegradable mulch, biochar and necessary fencing.

Are plastic tree guards and ties eligible?

No. Plastic tree guards and plastic ties are not eligible under the fund.

Is landowner permission required?

Yes. Applicants must obtain written permission from the landowner for each planting site before planting.

When must projects be completed?

All funded activities must be completed and reporting submitted by 5 March 2027.

Conclusion

The Trees Outside Woodland Fund 2026/27 offers substantial support for not-for-profit organisations seeking to create or enhance green spaces through tree planting across England. Grants of £10,000–£40,000 can help cover trees and sustainable establishment materials, while applicants must carefully comply with biosecurity, landowner permission, insurance and eligible-material requirements.

For a competitive application, organisations should present a practical planting plan, demonstrate clear community and environmental benefits, use sustainable materials and ensure that all project activities and reporting can be completed by 5 March 2027.