The charity Future Woodlands Scotland has selected a nut and fruit tree project in Raploch and Bannockburn to kickstart its efforts to improve urban spaces.

Led by the local environmental organisation, TreeLink Stirling, the nut and fruit tree project is the first of two pilot projects being funded by Future Woodlands Scotland's Urban Forestry Programme (UFP). The second project, a tree warden scheme, is intended to maintain 10,000 urban trees already planted across the Glasgow City Region.

The Urban Forestry Programme was developed to address the need for more trees and green spaces in Scotland’s urban areas, and to help improve the health and wellbeing of residents, and the urban environment. 

The programme will prioritise areas in Scotland with the fewest trees.

Several funding opportunities will be available through the UFP, with grants ranging from £2,000 to £100,000. The charity is also keen to explore opportunities with organisations to address challenges and obstacles to increasing tree canopy cover in Scotland’s towns and cities. 

Applications for the Urban Forestry Programme open on 30 September 2024. There is more information about the pilot projects here and about the grant programme here .

The UFP is supported by bp, as part of its planned Scottish offshore windfarm project, Morven, jointly developed with EnBW. As the UFP’s lead funder, bp has committed up to £10 million.