The aim of the fund is to encourage community groups and organisations to plant trees in urban areas with low canopy cover.
The UTCF supports planting of large ‘standard’ trees – making an immediate impact to communities and ensuring other organisations who provide planting for smaller trees can continue to do so.
To be eligible for UTCF funding, volunteers and local community groups will need to undertake the planting and maintaining of the trees in the future.
This is a great opportunity to get together and collaborate efforts, with many local residents and park 'friends' groups having previously had great success through the scheme.
If you’re involved in a local group and would like to apply for funding, now is your opportunity.
The UTCF is accepting submissions up until the end of May 2022, so we’re encouraging groups to get their application in as soon as possible.
There have been 158 trees funded so far by 11 successful community groups within Brighton & Hove that have submitted bids for funding from the UTCF.
Over the last few weeks, we have been busy working with lots of volunteering groups across the city to plant 101 of those trees.
The Queen's Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
All trees subsidised by the UTCF are eligible for registration on the Queen's Green Canopy database. They will feature on both the council and national registers, giving recognition of the work carried out by your group.
Councillor Amy Heley, co-chair of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee said: “The volunteers planting each and every one of these trees are positively influencing the green spaces and street scenes within our city.
“All the trees planted will have a huge impact, increasing our canopy cover, enhancing our environment and encouraging natural habitats that will help to maximise biodiversity in the future.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to increase the number of trees within Brighton & Hove. They will be a legacy for years to come that everyone can enjoy.
“Without the volunteers and dedicated support available we wouldn’t be able to achieve what we have already and these group deserve a huge thank you for their time and contribution to the city.”
Due to the success of this project in recent years, a dedicated part-time watering position has been funded to ensure trees survive their first few tentative years.
However, if you’re part of a group and available to carry out any local watering as a willing tree custodian, it’s always welcome while the trees become established.
Please visit the .Gov.Uk website to find out more information regarding the Urban Tree Challenge Fund, along with the required criteria that needs to be met.
