We’re delighted to announce our support of seven large scale projects that will bring more trees, woodlands and green spaces into Scotland’s towns and cities.

With over £450,000 in funding awarded through the first round of our Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund, these projects will help more people connect with nature where they live — and create greener, healthier places for generations to come.

The projects we’re supporting this year are led by communities, schools, and local authorities who share our ambition to grow greener, healthier places. They’ll be planting trees in streets, parks, school grounds, and community spaces. They are focusing on areas where the need for nature is greatest. The projects include:

• Govanhill Baths Community Trust, Creative Canopy Project, Glasgow
  Planting 780 fruit and nut trees across backcourts, schools and gardens — turning everyday spaces into a dispersed orchard co-designed by local residents.
• Glasgow City Council, The Glasgow Canopy Project
  Bringing more street trees, woodlands, hedgerows and wildlife habitats to Govan and Dalmarnock.
• St Marks Primary School, Planting our Way to a Better Future, Glasgow
  Planting trees to enhance school grounds and create greener spaces for pupils and families.
• Edible Estates, Nature Around Us, Edinburgh
  Establishing woodlands and orchards with residents across two council housing estates.
• West Lothian Council, West Lothian Urban Tree Planting Project
  Planting in parks, public spaces and residential areas — with opportunities for residents to get involved.
• South Lanarkshire Council, Removing Barriers to Tree Planting
  Planting trees across the region, linking to the Clyde Climate Forest and working with community partners.
• City of Edinburgh Council, Canopy Communities Project
  Partnering with Granton Community Gardeners to support tree planting and ecological connectivity across three areas of the city.

These new grants build on the three smaller projects we funded earlier this year — Friends of Inch Park, Friends of Linn Park and Norton Park SCIO, bringing the total to 10 projects. We’re excited to see how these first projects will grow and flourish in the years ahead.

“We looked for projects with a strong urban focus which prioritise areas most in need of trees and woodlands. We want to ensure everyone can benefit from trees – by learning about them, engaging in their care or simply spending time around them.

“These greening projects will bring more trees into the heart of our towns and cities – enhancing spaces, strengthening communities and helping more people connect with nature.

“We are proud to lead this important initiative with the backing of our founding partner bp and we look forward to seeing how these projects create lasting change over the coming years.”

FWS CEO, Shireen Chambers

Planting trees where they’re most needed

Every project we fund has been carefully assesses to ensure the greatest impact – planting trees where they’re needed most and creating lasting change for communities.

Applications for funding were assessed using the Tree Equity tool, which was created to address imbalances in urban tree distribution by American Forests, a US non-profit organisation, and was brought to the UK by the Woodland Trust and Centre for Sustainable Healthcare. 

All funded projects are helping to deliver on our ambition to achieve the 3:30:300 vision:

• Three trees visible from every home,
• 30% tree canopy cover in every neighbourhood,
• Quality green space within 300 metres of everyone.

The Creative Canopy Project

One project, the Creative Canopy Project led by Govanhill Baths Community Trust, shows the power of this work. Inspired by global ideas around forests, creativity, and long-term ecological care, they’ll be turning backcourts and gardens into a living artwork of fruit and nut trees, rooted in community collaboration. The Creative Canopy Project includes planting 780 fruit and nut trees as a dispersed orchard in backcourts, schools and gardens across Govanhill over the next three years.

“The Creative Canopy Project is about more than tree planting — it’s about growing environmental awareness, tackling food insecurity, and strengthening wellbeing through creativity and connection. We’re proud to be supported by an Urban Forestry Challenge Fund grant from Future Woodlands Scotland to help make it happen.”

Simone Stewart, Arts and Heritage Manager at Govanhill Baths Community Trust

Delivering a wide range of socio-economic benefits

Increasing tree cover in Scotland’s urban areas is critical to supporting our journey to net zero and creating vibrant places where people and nature can thrive together. Urban tree cover currently stands at less than 16% — well below the EU average of 30.2% — and we are committed to helping close that gap.

We also supported two pilot projects this year: a fruit and nut tree planting initiative in Stirling, and a new tree warden volunteer scheme in Glasgow — both helping to build momentum and community engagement.

Explore our interactive map to find out more about the projects we have funded.

About the Urban Forestry Programme

The Urban Forestry Programme is an ambitious ten-year project that sees us working alongside project founding partner bp to support and improve green spaces in Scotland’s cities, towns, and urban areas. This is the first major step in a ten-year journey to create lasting change.

Applications for the next round of the Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund will open in November 2025.