Network Rail Tree Planting Fund Available

Grants Available: Network Rail’s Community Tree Planting Fund Opens for 2025 Applications

The Tree Council, in collaboration with Network Rail, is now inviting applications for the 2025 round of the Community Tree Planting Fund.

Grants ranging from £2,500 to £10,000 are available to support well-planned, community-led tree planting projects across England, Scotland, and Wales. Eligible applicants include charities, local authorities, educational institutions, community groups, and landowners.

Projects must demonstrate:

• Clear community benefit and participation (volunteering, education, wellbeing)
• Positive impact on biodiversity
• Site suitability and appropriate tree selection ('right tree, right place')
• Use of UK-sourced, preferably native trees from certified nurseries
• Maintenance plan for a minimum of three years
• Willingness to share project outcomes and participate in monitoring

Additional priorities include:

• Proximity to Network Rail lines or stations
• Climate resilience measures (e.g. urban drainage, riparian zones)
• Youth engagement and training elements
• Partnerships or wider initiatives
• Use of sustainable, low-impact materials

Funding supports bare-root native trees, hedging plants, cell-grown stock, and potentially non-native species suited to local conditions or climate resilience. In-ground planting is preferred, but raised beds or containers may be considered.

Key Dates

• Application deadline: 31 July 2025 (midnight)
• Project completion: 1 March 2026

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