Cash boost for central belt planting initiative

An area of woodland the size of East Kilbride is set to be planted across Scotland’s central belt over the next 12 months, thanks to a major funding boost.

A multimillion pound grant scheme is expected to attract a host of applications that will create around 2,500 hectares of new woodland.

The initiative, which has the potential to create the highest level of tree planting activity in the region in nearly two decades, has been hailed as a means of improving the landscape in one of the nation’s most heavily populated areas.

With greater efforts being made to entice farmers and landowners to participate, the annual funding tranche for the Central Scotland Green Network scheme has been trebled to £3 million.

Rural affairs secretary Fergus Ewing said the money would help maintain the “impetus.”