Foresters, researchers, landowners, nurseries and seed suppliers are set to benefit today (Thursday 24 April) from up to £4.1 million to be made available to equip nurseries to enhance domestic tree and tree seed production to meet the ambitious statutory tree planting targets for climate, nature and people, while supporting green jobs, helping to boost growth in the sector.

This will help ensure we plant treescapes that are resilient to stresses including climate change and pests and diseases, while bolstering capacity to meet the Government’s ambitious tree-planting targets.

Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley said:

“Supporting domestic tree and tree seed production can be at the very root of growth opportunities for our sector. Our grants have the potential to ensure there is a reliable supply of diverse and high quality trees for future planting to the Government’s tree planting targets, improving timber security whilst boosting employment and the wider green economy.

“I encourage all eligible applicants to come forward to help us support the sector to grow and thrive.”

These grants have already seen funding awarded to a vast range of organisations across the public, private and third sectors, ranging from established tree and tree seed suppliers to new entrants to the sector. Previously supported projects can be found on our tree and seed production case studies page at: Tree and seed production case studies – GOV.UK.

Through the Tree Production Capital Grant, for example, funding has enabled community tree nurseries to purchase polytunnels and seed processing equipment, and supported larger nurseries to invest in machinery to improve their efficiency.

The Tree Production Innovation Fund unlocks new technologies that enhance the quantity, quality and diversity of tree planting stock, for example funding work into reducing synthetic fertiliser use in forestry which later led to crowding in of Danish venture capital seed to launch natural fertiliser company Re-Genus.

It also supported Rhizocore Technologies to develop locally adapted mycorrhizal fungi pellets to enhance tree growth, resilience and greater carbon capture by soil. The pellets are designed to be placed into the topsoil with saplings during tree planting. They keep the fungal symbionts they contain alive for months, enabling the formation of mycorrhizal associations with the planted trees. Field data has shown sites using the pellets have significant improvements to both tree growth rates and survival rates.

Dr Toby Parkes, Founder and CEO, Rhizocore, said:

“Tree Production Innovation Fund funding has enabled Rhizocore to develop its products and systems, transitioning Rhizocore from a research phase to a commercial phase and enabled us to develop the first commercially scalable system for delivering live, locally sourced ectomycorrhizal fungi to field planting sites.

“This foundational work has enabled Rhizocore to establish the data and systems needed for us to supply local ectomycorrhizal fungi to the forestry sector into the future.”

Planning and planting new seed stands and orchards and management of existing seed stands are examples of eligible activities for Seed Sourcing Grant funding.

Additional information:

• The Tree Production Capital Grant (up to £2 million) aims to help suppliers increase their productivity and resilience and is designed for tree and tree seed suppliers of all sizes, as well as new entrants looking to diversify into the sector. It closes for applications on 25 June.
• Read the Forestry Commission’s tree and seed production case studies.
• The Tree Production Innovation Fund (up to £1.5 million) provides funding for innovative projects designed to overcome barriers to domestic tree production and is designed to improve the quantity, quality and diversity of tree planting stock in England. It closes on 9 July.
• Read about previous successful Tree Production Innovation Fund projects.
• The Seed Sourcing Grant (up to £600,000) provides funding to improve the quantity, quality and diversity of tree seed sources in England and will help to ensure the availability of diverse planting stock to meet tree planting targets. It closes on 19 August.
• Read about previous successful Seed Sourcing Grant projects.

To help those interested in applying, the Forestry Commission are hosting a range of ‘how to apply’ webinars and ‘knowledge transfer’ events, sign up for free:

• Tree Production Innovation Fund Knowledge Transfer online event – Tues 20 May and Thurs 22 May
• Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF): How to Apply webinar – Wed 28 May
• Tree Production Capital Grant (TPCG): How to Apply webinar – Wed 4 June
• Seed Sourcing Grant (SSG): How to Apply webinar – Thurs 12 June
• To receive the latest news on these grants, sign up to the Forestry Commission’s e-alert.