The Dumfries & Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme is relaunched for new season

Phil Dowling and Sam Lomax visiting a grant recipient.

July sees the launch of the 2025/26 Dumfries & Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme, offering support to small scale tree planting projects across the region. Last season, 73 awards were made, with recipients varying from farmers and landowners through to schools and community groups. This season’s grant offers a similar level of support, allowing native planting schemes to get underway.

The Dumfries & Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme (DGTPGS) offers grants of up to £1,000 towards native trees and protection to get them established, and operates across the entirety of the region. It is administered by the Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands charity and is only possible thanks to funding support from Woodland Trust Scotland, Scottish Forestry and Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Nature Restoration Fund.

In the 2024/25 planting season, the scheme supported 73 schemes across the region, planting more than 9,000 trees. Farm and riparian (‘river-edge’) schemes proved particularly popular. The most planted species last year was Hazel, with Birch and Oak also widely planted.

Phil Dowling from Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands leads on scheme delivery and said as the new scheme was launched:

“Its time to start thinking of the next tree planting season! Trees are a major part of the Dumfries and Galloway landscape, but many of our native trees are old and increasingly susceptible to disease and storm damage; we need to be planting more young trees to safeguard healthy ecosystems for the enjoyment and benefit of both people and biodiversity.

We’ve now seen so many unassuming sites transformed through innovative and exciting tree planting projects supported by the Dumfries and Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme; I’d urge anyone with a small bit of land, be it a farm, school playing-field or community site, to apply.

We are attending a series of agricultural shows this summer, do ask us for more information if you see us! Massive thanks to the scheme’s funders: Scottish Forestry, Woodland Trust Scotland and the Council’s Nature Restoration Fund.”

Location of grant awarded in 2024/25

The DGTPGS is designed to support small-scale (<0.25Ha), primarily native planting schemes. For full information, visit the website here: https://dgwoodlands.org.uk/dumfries-and-galloway-tree-planting-grant-scheme/.

Any queries welcomed to phil.dowling@dgwoodlands.org.

Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands benefits from ongoing support from a range of partners, including Woodland Trust Scotland, Scottish Forestry and Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Environment Team. Work by Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is being boosted thanks to a major grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, aiming to deliver a tangible response to the twin crises we face and to maximise the benefits delivered in the region.

For more information about Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, follow them on social media, visit the website www.dgwoodlands.org.uk or sign up for the newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iAlL6k. Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is registered in Scotland as a SCIO, number 052525.

Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is a membership organisation. If you’d like to join as a member, visit the website. For any further info, please contact mcnabb.laurie@dgwoodlands.org.