Aims/priorities: Funding for public bodies, non-government organisations, community groups, charities, individuals and private companies, to support the planting and establishment of large and small trees in urban and peri-urban areas of England.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from public bodies, community groups, charities and non-government organisations, individuals and private companies in England.
The applicant must have full management control over the land or signed consent from those with management control over the land. Agents are also able to apply on behalf of an organisation or landowner.
Land included in a UTCF application must fall within an urban area of England. An urban area, as defined for the purposes of the UTCF, is a built up area (based on Office of National Statistics data) with a population of at least 2,000 people, with a buffer of 1km to account for peri-urban planting.
Grant amount: The fund is currently open with a planting budget of £3.8 million (excluding establishment payments) for the coming planting season 2022/23.
UTCF supports both block bids and individual applications. A block bid is designed for organisations to apply for funding for multiple projects that can be geographically dispersed or focused in one area but submitted under one application.
The guideline for block bids is a minimum UTCF funding requirement of £125,000. Individual applications are for smaller, focused areas of planting undertaken by small organisations or community groups. These individual applications will need a minimum UTCF funding requirement of £10,000 up to a maximum of £30,000.
Application process: To apply, applicants will need to register with Rural Payments to obtain a Single Business Identifier (SBI). Those wishing to apply should submit an Expression of Interest and return to UTCF@forestrycommission.gov.uk
Deadline: Tuesday 31 May
Contact Information:
Forestry Commission
620 Bristol Business Park
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol
BS16 1EJ
Email: utcf@forestrycommission.gov.uk
Website address: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/urban-tree-challenge-fund