There are just two weeks left to apply for a grant of up to £150 to help make your community greener. Durham County Council is offering the cash to schools, community groups, parish councils and farmers to mark National Tree Week. The annual event, which this year runs from Saturday, 26 November to Sunday, 4 December, aims to encourage tree planting and celebrate the importance of trees. Launched in 1975, it now sees up to one million trees planted across the country every year. Parish councils, community groups and schools wishing to undertake tree planting projects that involve children or the community, such as the planting of trees in urban parks and open spaces, memorial trees or community orchards, can apply for a grant of up to £150. Grants of up to £150 are also available through a separate scheme to farmers who wish to plant in fields, parkland, or hedgerows or in field corners or to supplement small copses. To be eligible, the scheme must be visible from a road or public right of way and not be within a private garden or within the boundaries of a residential property. Rebecca Beeston, Durham County Council’s landscape officer, said: “We’ve been supporting National Tree Week since 1979, during which time we have helped make the county greener by funding the planting of hundreds of trees. We would encourage people to make the most of this annual opportunity to get planting in their local area.” To apply for a grant, contact Durham County Council’s landscape and arboriculture team on 03000 267 133 or email landscape@durham. gov.uk Completed applications should be submitted by Monday, 28 November.
Grants up for Grabs in National Tree Week
![Grants up for Grabs in National Tree Week](https://www.newtonnews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/pine-tree.jpg)