The funding includes a grant from The Tree Council – DEFRA’s Trees Outside Woodland Fund, which supports the establishment of thousands of trees, orchards and hedgerows on land that is publicly accessible or of benefit to the public.
In addition, KCC has secured funding from the Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund which will enable the planting of 180 disease-resistant elm trees, creating future habitat for the White-letter Hairstreak butterfly – a priority species in the Kent & Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Tree planting is taking place across the county in collaboration with several borough and district councils, Medway Council, and parish councils. The first project begins this week in Swalecliffe in partnership with Canterbury City Council.
All planting is scheduled to be completed by the end of February 2026, although dates for all locations are not yet confirmed.
“This funding will help us deliver our commitment to planting a tree for every Kent resident.”
David Wimble, Cabinet Member for Environment at Kent County Council said:
“Trees are an important part of the Kent landscape and provide a rich habitat for our local wildlife. This funding will help us deliver our commitment to planting a tree for every Kent resident and support the ambitions within our Local Nature Recovery Strategy.”
Nature Minister, Mary Creagh, said: “Trees bring us peace, shade and joy, and people feel deeply connected to them across the country. This funding will see thousands of trees planted as part of our Plan for Change, to bring nature closer to people.”
The Tree Council CEO, Sara Lom, added: “Trees outside woodland are the trees we all come across most often – those in our parks, on our streets, and even the hedgerows that help capture carbon and act as heritage highways for a rich array of wildlife. We’re delighted to be partnering with Defra to offer this additional Tree Council grant opportunity to benefit people, wildlife and our planet, and especially Kent County Council!”
The Tree Council, a national charity working together for the love of trees, offers a range of funding and free tree options to support planting projects, helping to bring greater biodiversity, improved air quality, reduced flood risk, and significant environmental benefits to communities across the UK.
To find out more about the funding sources, visit:
- Trees Outside Woodland Fund - The Tree Council
- Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund - The Tree Council
To find out about the Kent & Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy, visit: Homepage | Making Space For Nature Kent
Notes to editor
About The Tree Council
The Tree Council is a national charity (number 279000) and membership organisation which brings everyone together with a shared mission to care for trees and our planet’s future. We inspire and empower organisations, government, communities and individuals with the knowledge and tools to create positive, lasting change at a national and local level. We are helped in our work by thousands of volunteer Tree Wardens and a growing force of Young Tree Champions. For more information about The Tree Council, please visit www.treecouncil.org.uk.
