Through recent months, the South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme has funded the planting of 9,099 native trees across Dumfries & Galloway. Awards have been made from Langholm to the Rhins of Galloway through the scheme’s third season of operation, making 92 awards and covering more than 23 hectares in total.
This year the South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme covered the entirety of Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders Council regions. The scheme offers grants of up to £1,000 to fund purchase of trees, protection and fencing costs. In Dumfries & Galloway this was funded from a variety of sources including Dumfries & Galloway Council (using funds from the Nature Restoration Fund), The Woodland Trust, Scottish Forestry and private donations.
Grant recipients varied from private landowners and farmers, through to community councils and school groups. A wide variety of native trees were planted, with the most popular – by number – including Willow, Alder, Hazel and Oak.
McNabb Laurie, Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands Manager, added:
“The scheme is growing in popularity each year as ever more people take the opportunity to plant native trees – whether for landscape, biodiversity, carbon or health & wellbeing reasons.
From Aspen to Yew, the scheme has supported a wide variety of species, and taken a step to establish the next generation of our region’s native trees.
We are so grateful to everyone that has supported the scheme to date. Feverish discussions are now underway as we try to secure funding and make plans for a return of the scheme next planting season. Please keep an eye on our channels as we hope to launch a new application round for next planting season shortly.”
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is a new initiative seeking to support trees, habitats and the people that depend upon them across the region. Partners include Borders Forest Trust, Woodland Trust Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. For more information about Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, follow the facebook or twitter pages, visit the website www.dgwoodlands.org.uk or sign up for the newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iAlL6k.
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is registered in Scotland as a SCIO, number 052525.
