Grants of up to £150 are available for community groups, parish councils, schools and individuals to make their area greener.
Applicants have until Friday 16 November to apply for the funding as part of celebrations for National Tree Week, which takes place between Saturday 24 November and Sunday 2 December.
To mark the UK’s largest annual tree festival, Durham County Council is offering grants for tree planting projects across the county in all forms, from planting fruit trees and commemorative areas, to hedgerow trees and small coppices.
Durham County Council has taken part in National Tree Week since 1979 and over the past three years has planted almost four thousand trees as part of the campaign.
Recipients of last year’s funding include:
• Frosterley Angling Club, which planted 150 trees along the River Wear to protect the riverbanks from erosion and provide shade for native brown trout and migratory fish.
• St Godric’s RCVA School, which planted a grove of Alder trees to create a shaded area for pupils to use during the summer.
• Rookhope Village Hall, which planted a copse of 50 trees in gullies on polluted and eroded land, formerly used as lead mining processing works, to help stop erosion and benefit local wildlife.
Steve Bhowmick, Durham County Council’s environment and design manager, said, “National Tree Week marks the start of the winter tree planting season and is the perfect time for communities to get their hands dirty and do something positive for their local environment. Trees have many benefits, not just improving areas aesthetically but creating habitats for wildlife, helping to prevent flooding, cleaning our polluted air and much more. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this year’s successful applicants have planned for their areas.”
Grants will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so people are encouraged to apply early. Applications cannot be accepted for planting on land immediately surrounding a residential building and whilst projects on private land such as farmland will be considered, they must be visible from a public right of way or road.
Application forms must arrive no later than Friday 16 November 2018 and can be requested by email from landscape@durham.gov.uk or by telephoning on 03000 267 133.