Woodland Trust launches pilot grant scheme to encourage creation of small, new native woods.

The Woodland Trust is running a scheme offering expert advice and grants of up to £4,000 to landowners who want to create small, new native woods, “TRUSTwoods”

It is open to people looking to create between one and three hectares of woodland in a trial area of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

To qualify for a TRUSTwoods grant new woodland should meet at least one of these criteria:

• Extend existing ancient woodland;
• Extend other woodland;
• Increase ecological connectivity, such as linking hedgerows;
• Engage the public; for example, with a new tree planting event;
• Increase public access to woodland; and
• Enhance the ecological, cultural and visual value of the landscape.

Applications will be assessed on a first-come, first served basis and the Woodland Trust will notify successful applicants and confirm their grants. Planting should take place in the winter of 2019-20.

The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK. It has over 500,000 supporters.

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