Defra announces The Big Tree Plant

A new partnership, that will plant one million extra trees across England in the next four years, has been launched by Defra Minister, Jim Paice.

The Big Tree Plant is the first government tree planting campaign since the 1970s and will plant trees in urban areas that need them most, harnessing the Big Society to deliver benefits to local communities.

The campaign brings together civil society partners and conservation organisations, such as The Tree Council, Woodland Trust, Trees for Cities and England's Community Forests, working with Defra and the Forestry Commission. The campaign is supported by grant funding of £1 million per year for the next four years, and will get more people in local communities planting and caring for trees.

Launching The Big Tree Plant, Defra Minister Jim Paice said: "The Big Tree Plant will use the power of the Big Society to plant trees in areas where people want and need them. Using the enthusiasm of local communities and the knowledge of the groups that know most about trees and their unique benefits, we'll help create neighbourhoods that we can be proud of."

Supporting The Big Tree Plant campaign, Griff Rhys-Jones, president of Civic Voice, said: "As President of Civic Voice, I welcome The Big Tree Plant. Civic Voice works to make our cities, towns and villages more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive - all of which can be achieved through The Big Tree Plant. We all have a personal responsibility for where we live, and The Big Tree Plant is a great way for people to get together with their neighbours, civic society and local community groups to plant and care for more trees and improve the local environment for everyone. Plant a tree, change the future and the future will thank you for it."

In recent years, the rate of trees being planted annually in urban and semi-urban areas across the country has declined. The Big Tree Plant will increase the number of trees being planted in these areas by supporting community groups and organisations to establish or expand projects to plant and care for trees. Groups that are interested in planting trees may apply for grant funding from today. Projects will be encouraged in areas of greatest need.

Defra has already funded significant new projects this tree planting season including:
• NHS Forests - 65,000 trees across 25 sites
• The Tree Council - 1,000+ trees across four sites
• Keep Britain Tidy - 100,000 trees across 750 sites

The campaign is included as a priority in Defra's Structural Reform Plan and Business Plan.