Kent County Council’s (KCC) Historic Treescapes Grant provides up to 100% funding for tree planting projects to restore trees that have been lost since the 1890 Ordnance Survey. With this grant KCC want to improve the natural beauty, habitat connectivity, and resilience of our countryside. No maximum amount you can apply for is specified.

The funding is only for projects within Dover district at the moment, but KCC may expand the eligible area in the future. Applicants must either own the land you wish to plant trees on, or have written permission from the landowner.

The planting location must be based in the countryside, rather than urban or town settings, and must be free of any of the following designations:

• Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
• Local and National Nature Reserves
• Priority Habitat Inventory sites
• RAMSAR sites
• SACs
• Scheduled Monuments
• SPAs
• SSSIs
• Wooded areas (National Forest Inventory sites).

The grant will pay for the trees, materials, protection, and labour of non-woodland planting projects. The grant could cover the restoration of historic:

• hedgerows
• hedgerow maiden trees
• in-field trees
• orchards
• parkland trees
• small, wooded areas (copses or spinneys) less than 0.2 hectares in size

KCC can fund the planting of any species listed on the English Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) species list, which include common traditional orchard species such as:

• apple
• damson
• hazel
• pear
• plum
• walnut

Planting of smaller trees (whips or feathers), rather than larger trees, as they are more likely to establish well with less maintenance, is more likely. However applications will be judged on a case-by-case basis and KCC understand there may be circumstances where bigger trees would be more appropriate.

KCC project officers can support your application and your eventual planting projects. They can advise on:

• location suitability
• tree species choice
• planting techniques
• protection approaches

Deadline: Ongoing until all funds are allocated

This fund is not managed by Funding for All. Please click ‘Funder’s website’ and contact the funder directly for more information.