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Historic treescapes grant

This funding programme is closed to new applications.

View open environmental funding programmes

This grant provided up to 100% funding for tree planting projects to restore trees lost since the 1890 Ordnance Survey.

With this grant, we want to improve the natural beauty, habitat connectivity, and resilience of our countryside.

The funding was only for projects within Dover district, but we may expand the eligible area if we open applications in the future.

If you have any questions, email us using treegrant@kent.gov.uk.

What the grant covered

The grant covered the costs of trees, materials, protection, and labour of non-woodland planting projects.

The grant could be used for the restoration of historic:

  • hedgerows
  • hedgerow maiden trees
  • in-field trees
  • orchards
  • parkland trees
  • small, wooded areas (copses or spinneys) less than 0.2 hectares in size.

We could fund the planting of any species listed on the English Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) species list, which includes common traditional orchard species such as:

  • apple
  • damson
  • hazel
  • pear
  • plum
  • walnut.

What the grant could not cover

Unsuitable projects included:

  • creation of new woodland greater than 0.2 hectares in size
  • extension of an existing woodland.

Eligibility

Applicants must either own the land or have written permission from the landowner.

The planting location must be based in the countryside, rather than urban or town settings, and must have been free of any of the following designations:

  • Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
  • Local and National Nature Reserves
  • Priority Habitat Inventory sites
  • RAMSAR sites
  • SACs
  • Scheduled Monuments
  • SPAs
  • SSSIs
  • Wooded areas (National Forest Inventory sites).

Assessment and payment

Assessment

We reviewed applications on a first come, first served basis until our funding ran out.

We considered value for money in our assessment and final decision.

Payment

If your application was successful, you'll need to complete planting and provide us with invoices by March 2024.

The process for submitting invoices will be confirmed as part of your assessment.

We will pay grants before the end of the 2023 to 2024 financial year once evidence of the completed work has been provided.