A new £4 million community tree planting scheme - The Big Tree Plant - has been launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in partnership with the Forestry Commission, civil society partners and conservation organisations. The aim of the scheme is to support community, not for profit groups to plant one million trees in towns, cities and residential areas throughout England over the next four years (2011 to 2015).

Grants of between £500 and £25,000, for up to 75% of costs, are available to projects that:
• plant trees in neighbourhoods in England where people live and work;
• involve the local community and provide benefits to people in the neighbourhood;
• plant individual street trees, small groups of trees in greenspaces, or other neighbourhood tree planting; and
• have in place a method for ensuring the trees are cared for in the future.

The fund can cover the costs of goods and services such as:
• trees and materials for tree planting;
• preparatory work such as utility searches, test pits, and planning applications;
• local community engagement;
• contract labour for running the project and undertaking works;
• time of staff spent on running the project;
• expert advice;
• hire of machinery; and
• small items such as tools or protective clothing for tree planting - however, these must remain the property of the group or organisation.

Local authorities cannot apply directly but projects in partnership with local authorities are welcome. The next application deadline will be in September 2011. The exact date will be reported on the Forestry Commission website at www.forestry.gov.uk