And landowners and community groups regionwide are being encouraged to apply for funding.
The South of Scotland Tree Planting initiative has announced that the scheme has been renewed for the coming year.
Grants are now available to help plant individual native trees or small new woodlands in order to enhance the local landscape, increase wildlife habitat, capture carbon and help reduce soil erosion. Field margin trees, orchards, treelines, individual parkland trees and small copses of less than 0.25 hectares are all encouraged.
The project is administered by the Tweed Forum, Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership and Borders Forest Trust.
Charles Dundas, of Borders Forest Trust, said; “It’s not just farmers and land managers that can have an impact, community groups can also make a difference by planting trees.
“Local schools, voluntary groups and community councils often have access to grounds where orchards or small copses could be planted. This enhances the look of our urban spaces and helps wildlife in the process.’’
Since its launch in April last year, the project has helped to enable the planting of over 20,000 landscapes trees across the South of Scotland via 123 applications.
In 2022-2, South of Scotland Tree Planting Grants are available up to a maximum of £1000 per applicant to cover material costs.
Further information is available by contacting Tweed Forum on 01896 849723, the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership on 07469 571806 or Borders Forest Trust on 01835 830750. Application forms and supporting information is available at tweedforum.org, gallowayglens.org or bordersforesttrust.org.
