Still time to apply for £1,000 grants for planting trees in Ayrshire

Landowners, community groups and local businesses managing green space are reminded that the Ayrshire Small Scale Tree Planting Programme is still open for applications, with grants of up to £1,000 available for planting trees in South and East Ayrshire within the UNESCO Biosphere region.

The programme is led by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership and supported by funding from South Ayrshire Council, Scottish Forestry, the Woodland Trust and Land Energy. It aims to boost biodiversity by creating new native habitats, widening access to outdoor recreation at the same time. Grant awards cover tree guards, stakes and protective fencing as well as the saplings themselves, and not-for-profit organisations can also claim up to 100% of labour costs.

The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership is a charitable organisation which leads and facilitates a range of collaborative projects in conservation, education, enterprise and climate resilience. Project lead Antoine Lemaire, the Biosphere’s Nature Recovery Officer, says “This is an exciting and inspiring programme which is helping expand broadleaf woodland across Ayrshire, including some of the region’s most nature-depleted landscapes. Over three seasons we’ve planted close to 3,000 trees and hope to increase this number before the planting season closes in spring. All applicants are supported with site visits and advice and we encourage applications from anyone who owns, knows of or looks after a small piece of land which could be made wonderful in 2026.” 

Eligible sites must measure 0.6 acres (0.25ha) or less and have some element of public accessibility, which includes field boundaries, parkland, riversides and more. A variety of new treelines, orchards and wellbeing spaces within villages and towns have already been created since the first grants were issued in 2023. Application is via a simple form available at www.gsabiosphere.org.uk, or email antoine@gsabiosphere.org.uk for more information and an informal chat.