How To Get Funding For Planting Trees And Hedgerows In The Forest Of Bowland

Ever look out at a patch of land and think, ‘I’d love to plant some trees there’? Maybe you’ve got a field that could do with a bit more life, or you just want to do your bit for the local wildlife. But then the questions start. Which trees? How do you even start? And where does the money come from?

It can all feel a bit much. Well, if you’re a landowner in or around the Forest of Bowland, a brilliant local charity has some amazing news for you. The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (or YDMT for short) has extended its grant scheme, and it’s all about helping people like you create beautiful new woodlands and hedgerows.

So, what’s the big idea?

Okay, let’s break it down. The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust is teaming up with the Forest of Bowland National Landscape in a new partnership. Their goal is simple: to help landowners plant more native broadleaf woodlands. And what are those? They’re basically woods made up of trees that have been growing in Britain for thousands of years, like oak, birch, and rowan. The proper stuff.

But it’s not just about big woods. This new grant scheme is also for creating and restoring hedgerows and planting individual landscape trees. These are the green corridors and leafy landmarks that make our countryside what it is. This is all part of creating better treescapes – which is just a way of saying improving the landscape with trees. The YDMT is offering a load of support to make these fantastic projects happen. They want to boost local biodiversity and create green spaces for the whole community to enjoy.

A real-life story: Angela’s dream woodland

Thinking this all sounds a bit too good to be true? Meet Angela Kilburn. She had a dream of creating a woodland on her land near Bentham. She wanted to bring more variety to the landscape and encourage more wildlife. With the help of the YDMT and a team of brilliant community volunteers, she made it happen.

Together, they planted 350 trees and created a 415-metre hedgerow. That’s a massive win for nature. And the best bit? It’s already working. Angela said:

‘‘We have really enjoyed working with YDMT, its staff and volunteers. Only a few months later and we’re already seeing an improvement in biodiversity. We’re looking forward to seeing how it develops over the years and to continuing our collaboration with YDMT.’’

Just a few months! It shows how quickly nature can bounce back when you give it a helping hand. Imagine the birds that will start nesting in that hedgerow, or the insects and small mammals that will make the new wood their home. It's a perfect example of how these projects create vital wildlife habitats.

What kind of help can you actually get?

Right, this is the important bit for any landowners reading. The YDMT isn’t just going to give you a bag of saplings and wish you luck. They offer a whole package of support to guide you through the entire process. This isn't just a simple handout; it's a full partnership.

Here’s a taste of what’s on offer:

• Expert advice: They’ll help you with the whole design, figuring out the best type of trees for your land and where the planting should go.
• Finding the cash: Let’s be honest, this is a big one. They will actively help you identify funding opportunities to cover the costs. This grant scheme is designed to make it affordable.
• Getting the job done: Don’t know any good contractors? No problem. They can recommend people to carry out the work properly.
• Long-term plans: They can even help you develop a management plan for your new (or existing) woodland, and provide funding to help with the work, making sure your trees thrive for years to come. This includes tracking the progress to ensure the project is a success.

Tony Lund, who is the Partnership Manager for the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, is clearly chuffed about it all. He added:

‘’We are delighted to be working with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust on this project. Small woodlands and individual trees when planted in the right place are really valuable for nature. As well as new planting there is also scope to enhance some existing small woodlands. It’s a great opportunity to have a positive impact on the landscape and improve the habitat for wildlife within the Forest of Bowland.’’

He’s spot on. Even a small patch of trees can make a massive difference, providing shelter, food, and safe routes for animals. Plus, trees are brilliant at soaking up rainwater, which can help reduce flooding. It's all connected.

A legacy of leaves

The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust has been doing this kind of thing for a while. Since 1997, this amazing charity has helped people plant over 1.6 million trees. Just think about that for a second. That's a huge forest, created piece by piece by the local community. The tracking and documentation of these efforts are impressive.

Just last winter, their work resulted in:

• 10,659 new trees planted
• Over 4km of new hedgerow created
• 85 new landscape trees planted and protected

This isn't just about planting; it's about providing long-term support for native broadleaf woodlands and the wider environment. It’s about giving people access to nature and improving the biodiversity of the whole area. These treescapes create essential wildlife habitats and are something we can all be proud of.

Fancy getting involved? Here’s how

So, if you have some land in the Forest of Bowland area and this has got you thinking, now is the time to act. It doesn’t matter if you have a huge estate or a small paddock; if you have space to plant some trees or an old hedgerow that needs a bit of love, get in touch with them. The team at YDMT is ready to offer advice.

You can find all the information on the grant scheme and how to apply on their website. Head over to the woodland grants section to get started. All the info on funding opportunities is there.

But don’t hang about! The deadline for applications is 30 September 2025. This announcement was made on 17 July 2025, so there's plenty of time to get your ideas together. This is a chance to do something incredible for the landscape, for the wildlife, and for future generations. Go on, give it a look.