Scottish Forestry and a number of partners in south Scotland are inviting more applications to the South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant.

The grant is open to any organisations or individuals who are keen to plant more native trees that will enhance the landscape and biodiversity of the area, whilst also contributing to public amenity.

Trees could be planted on farms, village greens, in school playgrounds, field edges and in community spaces.

Scottish Forestry is one of the partners involved in the grant and is supporting it with £40,000 this year.

Iain Laidlaw, Operations Manager with Scottish Forestry in South Scotland said: "Last year we were very successful and supported around 123 separate applications and managed to get over 20,500 new trees in the ground on a variety of great projects.

"Combined with all the partners, this year we have a budget of around £165,000 to support about 180 small scale planting projects and we hope to plant around 30,000 trees in total.

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"Winter is the best time of year for planting trees and we’re keen to get more applications in soon before the ground dries out in the Spring.

"The partners involved in the South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant would welcome many more applications, so do get in touch if you are interested."

The grant covers projects both in the Dumfries and Galloway area and Scottish Borders.

Field margin trees, individual parkland trees and small copses of less than 0.25 hectares are all encouraged. Up to £1,000 per application is available to cover material costs associated with the planting (and some labour for schools and communities).

All Dumfries & Galloway applications are initially handled by the Galloway Glens Team. Jonathan Barrett, Galloway Glens Management & Access Officer, said: "If you are looking to plant some native trees this winter, do get in touch to apply for a grant of up to £1,000 to cover costs. Recent applicants have varied from farmers and other landowners, through to schools and community groups."

Scottish Borders applications are supported by Tweed Forum and Borders Forest Trust. Derek Robeson from Tweed Forum said: "The scheme is proving very popular with farmers and community groups wishing to replace some of the many landscape trees blown down in recent gales."

The South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant is supported through a partnership of Woodland Trust Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Tweed Forum, Borders Forest Trust, Scottish Borders Council, Nature Restoration Fund, Galloway Glens LP, Scottish Forestry and private donations.