GrantRadar

Dorset National Landscape

Dorset Community Tree Fund

Funded by Dorset Council and co-ordinated by the Dorset National Landscape team, this fund supports community projects to plant and care for trees across the Dorset Council area. It meets up to 75% of project costs for charities and voluntary groups and up to 50% for other organisations, with volunteer time and contributions in kind counting towards the match. The fund is particularly keen to support the planning and design stage before a planting application, and remains open until all funds are allocated.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Amount not specified
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Organisations in the Dorset Council area, especially parish and town councils, schools and constituted community groups
  • The project must relate to land in the Dorset Council area, have some public access or engagement, and have the support of the community and of the parish or town council where appropriate
  • Planting projects need the landowner's permission and that of statutory bodies where relevant

What it funds

  • The planning and design phase of a tree planting project, which the fund is particularly keen to support ahead of an application for the planting itself
  • Tree planting, hedge planting and gapping up, hedgerow trees and orchards
  • Tools and equipment for planting and maintaining trees
  • Hedge projects including new hedges, hedge-laying, gapping up and adding hedgerow trees
  • Setting up or extending a community orchard or tree nursery
  • Events, training or interpretation materials to engage communities
  • Planting projects must use only plants sourced and grown in the UK

What it will not fund

  • Projects on private land with no public access
  • Commercial projects for private financial gain
  • Projects already receiving funds from elsewhere for the same activity
  • Anything fulfilling a statutory obligation
  • Planting on road verges is only likely to be funded in exceptional circumstances and with Dorset Council's consent — without an agreed plan, applicants must apply for planning and design support first and speak to the project officer

How to apply

  • Complete the application form and finance form downloaded from the fund's page and submit them with supporting documents
  • A planting application made without a prior 'Stage 1' planning and design application must include the site location and a scale plan, photographs, evidence of permissions, the extent of public access, proposed supplier and species, plans for planting, protecting and establishing the trees, and a longer-term management and maintenance plan
  • The project officer welcomes an informal discussion first

Have ready

Application form, finance form, scale plan of the planting area, site photographs, evidence of landowner and statutory permissions, evidence of community support, and a maintenance plan.

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