£10m to plant over 130,000 urban trees

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced that a new £10 million plan will see more than 130,000 trees planted across England’s towns and cities.

As part of the Urban Tree Challenge Fund, grants will be made available over the next two years to green urban areas and help meet the government’s target to plant one million urban trees by 2022. This is deemed crucial in the fight against climate change, because trees store carbon and can help make our towns and cities more resilient.

Studies show that trees in urban areas improve health and wellbeing, connect people with the outdoors, absorb noise, reduce flood risk, lower temperatures through shading, and create green spaces for communities to come together.

Gove said: “Trees are vital in the fight against climate change, which is why we must go further and faster to increase planting rates. We need trees lining the streets of our cities and towns, not only to green and shade them but to ensure that we remain connected to the wonders of the natural world and the health and well-being benefits that it brings us.”

The scheme, which will be administered by the Forestry Commission will be open to individuals, local authorities, charities and NGOs.