Kent Tree Plan - Call for Sites

Kent Tree Plan

A call for expressions of interest for potential small woodland creation and community orchard sites

As part of ‘Plan Tree’, Kent County Councils Tree Establishment Strategy, we are bidding for funding through the Local Authority Treescape Fund for 2023 and 2024. The fund is focused on planting and natural colonisation of trees in areas outside of woodlands, including parklands, riparian zones, urban areas, beside roads and footpaths. (The scheme does not include the creation or reinstatement of hedgerows).

The Fund aims to improve landscape connectivity outside woodland, increase natural colonisation where appropriate and provide benefits to ecosystems and society, such as carbon absorption, flood protection and support for biodiversity. The UK needs millions of new trees to reach its 2050 carbon net-zero target. By planting with us, you'll help bring us nearer to this important goal. This is a great opportunity to get local people engaged with our ambition to see the county’s tree cover extended by 1.5 million, establishing one new tree for every resident living in the county.

What do we need and what are we offering?

We are looking for areas of land from the size of a tennis court up to about half a football pitch. The maximum size we can plant is 0.5ha, which is just over an acre (70m x 70m).

We are asking Parish Councils to consider if they know of any sites that may be suitable for the scheme. The land does not need to be owned by the Parish Council, but the landowner must consent to the trees being planted. The Plan Tree team will assess the suitability of the suggested sites before adding them to the funding bid. A planting scheme will be agreed with the Parish Council and/or landowner. We have already approached schools about the Woodland for Schools scheme and had positive responses across Kent.

We will supply a few hundred trees to over 1000 depending on the size and needs of the location. Native, deciduous tree species will be chosen to be in-keeping with the local environment. Trees are usually planted as whips (up to 0.5m in height) or feathers (up to around 1.25m in height).

We will also supply tree guards, supports and mulch if needed. In some cases, we can also provide fencing and gates for the newly planted area.

The “Plan Tree” team can arrange for help to plant the trees if needed. We will collaborate with the Parish Council, your local community groups and tree wardens to develop the project, prepare the site, and help to organise a successful planting event. You will receive planting instructions and aftercare advice to ensure the best possible outcome for the trees. There will be an agreement with the Parish Council/landowner to provide aftercare for three years to establish the trees (including watering if needed) and a commitment for the trees to remain in place for 30 years.

What do you want?

Every location is different, and we will work with you to create the treescape that enriches the area for both residents and the environment. Trees can be planted as wildwoods, avenues, windbreaks, thickets or copses. We can also advise on other initiatives to consider, to improve the biodiversity of your sites.

Community Orchards

We are currently investigating the possibility of offering Community Orchards in future rounds of funding. To help us plan, we would like to know if Parish Councils would be interested in this scheme or if there are community orchards already set up.

What to do now

Please complete the following expression of interest form and return it to Plan Tree - plantree@kent.gov.uk

The Plan Tree team will then contact you to discuss the next stage in applying for tree planting under the Local Authority Tree Fund.

Parish Council – Expression of Interest – Local Authority Treescape Fund & Community Orchards