Urban forestry
Greening our urban areas with our Urban Forestry Programme
Scotland’s towns and cities urgently need more trees to create greener, healthier places for people and nature.
Trees reduce flooding, cut pollution, cool our streets and support wildlife — yet many urban areas still don’t have enough. Over 80% of us live in towns and cities, but urban tree cover in Scotland remains low. Through our Urban Forestry Programme, we’re working to change that by supporting urban tree planting and improving access to green spaces across Scotland.
Launched in 2024, this multi-year, multi-million-pound initiative helps create, care for and protect urban trees and green spaces across Scotland.
We do this by:
- Providing funding for urban tree planting through the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund
- Working with partners to build long-term capacity for greener towns and cities.
The Urban Forestry Challenge Fund
The Urban Forestry Challenge Fund provides grants of up to £100,000 for projects that support the 3-30-300 rule:
- 3: Everyone should be able to see at least three trees from home, school or work
- 30: Every neighbourhood should have at least 30% tree canopy cover
- 300: Everyone should live within 300 metres of quality public greenspace
The programme prioritises areas with the fewest trees, guided by Tree Equity Tool, ensuring that trees and green spaces benefit the people and places that need them most.
The first round of the Fund opened in 2024 and we committed £620,000 in funding. The next round will launch in 2025/2026, offering new opportunities for urban greening projects and tree planting initiatives.
Urban Forestry Challenge Fund information
Applying for the grant
How can I apply?
Round 2 of the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund will open in 2025/2026, providing funding for urban tree planting, woodland creation and green space projects across Scotland.
In the meantime, sign up to our newsletter for updates or contact our Urban Forestry Manager, Des Hackett, to discuss your project ideas.
How much can I apply for?
There are two levels of funding available:
Small projects: £2,000 to £20,000 for community-led tree planting or green space improvements
Larger projects: £20,000 to £100,000 for more ambitious urban forestry or woodland projects
Projects can run for up to three years. We will consider funding up to 100% of your project costs for small projects, but encourage you to include match funding or in-kind contributions where possible. Overhead costs are capped at 15%.
What will you fund?
We support projects that increase tree cover and improve access to green spaces in Scotland’s urban areas. We fund:
- Tree planting and long-term care for urban trees
- Urban woodland creation and management
- Research, education and skills development in urban forestry
- Community engagement and awareness-raising activities
We also fund project development costs such as:
- Technical or design consultancy
- Community engagement activities
- Staff time related to urban tree planting or woodland creation
Who can apply
We welcome applications from:
- Community groups and development trusts
- State-funded schools and education providers
- Local authorities
- Registered charities and community interest companies
- Partnerships made up of these organisations
We cannot accept applications from individuals, but we encourage you to share this opportunity with your local community council or organisations working on urban greening or tree planting.
FAQs
What kinds of projects can apply?
Projects must focus on urban areas in Scotland, especially where people can benefit the most from trees. When you apply, you’ll need to provide the “Tree Equity Priority” for the neighbourhood(s) where your project is happening. This will show whether the area has a low, moderate, high, or highest need for more trees based on its Tree Equity Score.
When will funding decisions be announced?
- Smaller grants (up to £20,000): This is a single-stage application process.
- Larger grants (£20,000-£100,000): This is a two-stage process.
Who do I contact for help?
If you have any questions about the Urban Forestry Programme, please contact Des Hackett, our Urban Forestry Manager or visit the Contact us page for more information.
Strengthening capacity in the sector
As part of our Urban Forestry Programme, we’re working with partners and stakeholders to promote best practice and strengthen capacity in the sector. There’s growing recognition of the vital role trees play in making our towns and cities healthier, more liveable and biodiverse spaces but to achieve our shared ambitions we need to expand knowledge, skills and resources. We’re already supporting research into tree cover in new housing developments and supporting training for local authority staff, and we are keen to identify other opportunities to support urban forestry in Scotland. If you have an idea that could help Scotland move towards 3-30-300 get in touch.
Latest Urban forestry stories
Urban Forestry projects
West Lothian Urban Tree Planting Project | Connecting green networks, improve biodiversity, and increase canopy
Amount: £61,815 Location: Livingstone Awarded: April 2025 West Lothian Council is delivering a major tree planting initiative to green urban spaces across the region, with support from the Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund. The project will plant more than 1,500 trees between 2025 and 2028 in parks, residential areas, streets, and school grounds—bringing visible nature […]
Learn MoreSt Marks Primary School will green its school grounds
Amount: £36,034 Location: Barrhead Awarded: April 2025 St Mark’s Primary School in East Renfrewshire is planting 500 to 700 trees in its school grounds, transforming a low-canopy neighbourhood into a greener, healthier place to learn and grow. With support from the Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund, the project focuses on Tree Equity and climate education, […]
Learn MoreSouth Lanarkshire removes barriers to urban tree planting
Amount: £90,000 Location: South Lanarkshire Awarded: April 2025 South Lanarkshire Council is removing barriers to urban tree planting by delivering 588 standard trees across high-priority neighbourhoods including Rutherglen, Blantyre, Burnbank, and Larkhall. With support from the Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund, the project focuses on Tree Equity and aims to create healthier, greener communities in […]
Learn MoreCanopies Community Project | Growing tree equity and community connection across Edinburgh
Amount: £89,500 Location: Edinburgh Awarded: April 2025 The Canopy Communities project, led by the City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with Granton Community Gardeners (GCG), is working with residents to bring more trees and nature to three neighbourhoods across the city. With support from our Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund, the project focuses on Tree […]
Learn MoreEdible Estates | Bringing orchards and woodlands to Edinburgh’s council estates
Amount: £39,565 Location: Edinburgh Awarded: April 2025 Edible Estates will bring new woodlands and community orchards to two council housing estates in Edinburgh, working closely with residents, schools, and local organisations. Supported by a grant from the Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund, the project focuses on Tree Equity—targeting areas with limited tree cover to improve […]
Learn MoreThe Creative Canopy: Growing a dispersed orchard in Glasgow
The Creative Amount: £85,085 Location: Govanhill, Glasgow Awarded: April 2025 The Creative Canopy Project, led by Govanhill Baths Community Trust, is transforming everyday spaces across Glasgow’s Southside into a vibrant network of green places. With support from the Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund, the project will plant 480 fruit and nut trees in backcourts, gardens, […]
Learn MoreThe Glasgow Canopy Project: Greening Govan and Dalmarnock
Amount: £50,000 Location: Glasgow Awarded: April 2025 Led by Glasgow City Council, The Glasgow Canopy Project will bring hundreds of new street trees, woodlands, hedgerows, and wildlife habitats to the Govan and Dalmarnock areas. With funding from the Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund, the project aims to increase canopy cover, support biodiversity, and build greener, […]
Learn MoreA community orchard and tree care project | Edinburgh
Friends of Inch Park in South East Edinburgh are set to make the local area a dynamic hub for environmental care and education. This ambitious project will plant 90 fruit trees and 250 additional trees, joining a network of community orchards within a 20-minute neighbourhood radius. With funding from our Urban Forestry Programme, local residents […]
Learn MoreGreening Edinburgh’s Norton Park SCIO for community wellbeing
Norton Park SCIO in Edinburgh is set to be transformed into a greener, more vibrant space with support from our Urban Forestry Programme. The project will increase canopy cover and create accessible greenspaces for local workers, residents, and visitors. Home to 24 charities and not-for-profits, Norton Park provides vital office space and event facilities, serving […]
Learn MoreEnhancing Glasgow’s green spaces | Linn Park
The Friends of Linn Park nature reserve meadow and woodland project is dedicated to enhancing and maintaining the Glasgow park’s woodland areas, while also expanding tree planting into surrounding communities. This initiative will create accessible green spaces, fostering biodiversity and improving tree equity in local neighbourhoods. The project, supported by the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund, […]
Learn MoreFree nut and fruit trees | Stirling
TreeLink Stirling, with grant support from the Urban Forestry Programme, is expanding its ‘free trees’ initiative to focus on garden tree planting in two neighbourhoods—Raploch and Bannockburn—where tree canopy cover and tree equity are particularly low. These areas are key components of TreeLink’s flagship project, the Crown of Trees. The project offers free fruit trees […]
Learn MoreA new Community Volunteer role to help care for 10,000 trees in Glasgow
Thanks to funding from the Urban Forestry Programme, the Clyde Climate Forest (CCF) initiative, active across the Glasgow City Region, has employed a Community Volunteer Co-ordinator. One year on, the Tree Warden Scheme is making a clear difference. Under Laura Salvage’s leadership, local volunteers are being recruited, trained, and supported to care for more than […]
Learn MoreThank you!
The Urban Forestry Programme is supported by bp, founding partner, which has committed up to £10 million as part of its planned Scottish offshore wind project, Morven.