Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund.

Background

The Community Tree Planting Fund is delivered by Tree Council in partnership with Network Rail.

Objectives of Fund

This fund aims to support community tree-planting projects that are well-planned, sustainable, and will directly benefit people and communities.  

Value Notes

Grants of between £2,500 and £10,000 are available. 

Who Can Apply

The following can apply:

• Local authorities.
• Charities & other NGOs.
• Community groups.
• Education institutions.
• Individual landowners.

Proposed projects must: 

• Be in England, Scotland, or Wales.
• Be not-for-profit.
• Plant in publicly accessible, publicly visible, or community-used spaces to ensure broad benefit.

Applicants must:

• Hold public liability insurance for planting.
• Have written permission to plant on the site(s).
• Have an organisational bank account to receive grant payments.

Location

England, Scotland, and Wales. 

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• 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, eg, laurel, Leyland cypress, cherry laurel.
• Non-native conifers, unless in certain circumstances (eg urban areas, arboretum, with pollutant control being a key objective).
• Plastic tree guards or ties.
• Mulch mats derived from fossil fuels.
• Peat-based products.
• Chemical weed control and herbicides.

Eligible Expenditure

Funding is for well-planned tree planting projects that will directly benefit people, communities, and wildlife. 

Proposed activities must align with the following 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.

The following criteria are also desirable:

• Close proximity to the Network Rail network (lines or stations).
• Contribution to climate resilience (eg, riparian planting, sustainable drainage in urban areas).
• Part of a wider initiative or partnership (eg, 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.

Funding is for the following types of trees:

• Urban street trees, Miyawaki forests, agroforestry, orchards, hedgerows, riparian, and parklands.
• Bare root, native trees of an appropriate size for the project (preference will be given to younger trees, which will establish better, although trees up to a standard size of 8-10cm girth will be considered).
• UK-sourced and grown, bare-root whips (saplings) and cell-grown (root trainer) stock for hedging projects (40-120cm height).
• Hedgerow trees.
• Orchards: fruit trees on semi-vigorous, vigorous, and very vigorous rootstocks.

The following types of trees may be considered:

• Non-native varieties if appropriate to the setting (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 (eg, nursery/schools etc).
• Trees in containers or raised beds (trees planted in the ground are preferred but container or raised bed planting may be considered if clearly justified and supported by a strong irrigation and aftercare plan).

Eligible establishment aids include:

• Cardboard/bioplastic tree/hedge guards. 
• Non-plastic ties, eg rubber or hessian.
• Stakes (coppiced material such as chestnut or hazel is preferred). 
• Organic mulch or biodegradable mulch mats.
• Non-peat based soil improvers if needed.

The following establishment aids may be considered:

• More robust and costly guards if the setting justifies it.
• Fencing, if needed, and more cost-effective.
• Other project resources to support tree establishment, such as irrigation, equipment like watering cans/irrigation aids, and PPE.

Proposed activities should be completed by 1 March 2026.

How To Apply

The deadline for applications is 31 July 2025 (midnight).

If the available funding isn’t fully allocated, a second application window may open later in the year.

Groups should email the Tree Council for more information on how to apply.

Apply here- Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund – The Tree Council