Deadline: 31-Jul-2025
The Tree Council and Network Rail are once again working in partnership to support a new season of community tree planting.
Funding Information
- Grants of between £2,500 and £10,000 are available per application.
Eligible Costs
- Non-native varieties if appropriate to the setting, e.g. urban/park etc. Must be UK grown
- Non-native varieties and species which are chosen to take into account climate change adaptation and resilience. Must be UK grown
- Fruit trees on dwarfing rootstock, if the setting is appropriate (e.g. nursery/schools etc)
- Trees in containers or raised beds – they generally prefer to fund trees planted in the ground, but may consider container or raised bed planting if clearly justified and supported by a strong irrigation and aftercare plan
Ineligible Costs
- Container grown stock except in certain circumstances where selected species may not be available bare rooted, or it is the only supply available locally
- Imported stock, except when unavoidable
- Single species planting, unless in an appropriate setting and with a valid reason shown
- Invasive and rapidly growing species e.g. laurel, Leyland cypress, cherry laurel
- Non-native conifers unless in certain circumstances (e.g. urban areas, arboretum, with pollutant control being a key objective)
Eligibility Criteria
- To be considered for a grant from the Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund, a project must first meet all of the following core eligibility criteria:
- Each project must:
- Be in England, Scotland or Wales
- Be not for profit
- Plant in publicly accessible, publicly visible, or in community-used spaces to ensure broad benefit
- Each applicant must:
- Hold public liability insurance for planting
- Have written permission to plant on the site(s)
- Have a bank account (not a personal account) to receive grant payments
- They welcome applications from:
- Local authorities
- Charities & other NGOs
- Community groups
- Education institutions
- Individual landowners
- Each project must:
Selection Criteria
- Key project criteria:
- Clear community benefit and involvement, such as volunteering, education, or wellbeing initiatives
- Improvements in biodiversity at the planting site
- Clear understanding of site suitability for tree planting, based on site-specific considerations
- Thoughtful tree selection following “right tree, right place” principles, supported by a detailed planting plan
- Use of UK-sourced and grown trees, preferably native species from local or community nurseries and/or those that are Plant Healthy certified
- Comprehensive establishment and aftercare plan, including a commitment to maintain the trees and site for a minimum of three years
- Willingness to provide content for external communications purposes
- Commitment to participate in monitoring and evaluation activities post planting
- Desirable project criteria:
- Close proximity to the Network Rail network (lines or stations)
- Contribution to climate resilience (e.g. riparian planting, sustainable drainage in urban areas)
- Part of a wider initiative or partnership (e.g. environmental, social)
- Youth involvement, including skills training or enterprise elements
- Collaboration with a Tree Warden Network or other local community groups
- Use of sustainable, recyclable, non-polluting, and low impact resources and materials for tree protection
For more information, visit The Tree Council.
