News from the gardening world
Government allocates £40m to tree projects in the countryside and cities
Projects involving hedgerow restoration, tree planting in cities and the creation of 300 hectares (740 acres) of woodland are to be realised in a Government-funded initiative.
The 68 projects identified in the Green Recovery Challenge programme will share almost £40 million in grants and will see 800,000 trees planted, help to restore damaged habitats, such as moorlands, wetlands and forests, and supporting conservation work and helping to improve education about the environment.
Winning projects include £3,860,200 for the Woodland Trust, in association with the National Trust, to restore ancient woodlands and trees in 63 landscapes across England. Starting this month, the restoration, which will take over 15 months, will particularly focus on Devon, the East of England, Cumbria and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, and expand the organisation’s Ancient Tree Directory.
‘Close the Gap’, a project partnered by The Tree Council and the Worshipful Company of Gardeners among others, will use its £1.8 million award to improve hedgerow coverage across England by filling ‘gaps in existing hedgerows and planting new’, while engaging the public about the country’s hedgerow heritage.
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare has been awarded £580,400 to improve access to green spaces at NHS sites across England, including planting 10,000 trees at more than 50 NHS sites as part of the NHS Forest project. The money will assist development of outdoor ecotherapy sessions and help refurbish a garden to support patients at a chemotherapy suite.
The Conservation Education & Research
Trust will receive £249,900 to help plant 12 tennis court-sized ‘tiny forests’ in urban areas across England, while a partnership led by the Youth Hostel Association in England and Wales will receive £2,543,600 to connect young people to nature by focussing on communities from deprived areas and launching virtual, field or class-based learning opportunities, supported by day and residential trips and citizen science programmes.
“These projects will drive forward work across England to restore and transform our landscapes, boost nature and create green jobs, and will be a vital part of helping us to build back greener from coronavirus,” said Environment Minister Rebecca Pow.
Money for projects will be delivered via the National Lottery Heritage Fund, in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency. A second round of funding for new projects is set to open soon.