A TREE FOR EVERYONE GRANT FUND
South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard opened a new Grant Fund to support his ambition to plant 1.4 million trees across South Yorkshire in January 2025.
A Tree For Everyone Grant Fund is for people in South Yorkshire who would like to plant trees here, on land where planting rights are secured, and where the trees will provide a public benefit and enhance environmental sustainability. In contrast to the Free Trees for Communities scheme which is only open to community groups and provides packs of 50 trees. The Grant Fund is open to everyone in South Yorkshire, and can offer a more flexible number of trees, as well as equipment, surveys or other professional support, provided applicants meet the criteria.
A total of £50,000 was allocated for this fund. Grants was awarded in amounts of between £250 to £2,500.
Funding rounds for tree planting projects
Round 1 ( now closed)
The fund was open to applications from 24 January until 21 February 2025. This round was suitable for projects that intended to plant trees or develop tree planting initiatives in the 2024/2025 tree planting season.
The six successful recipient projects for Round 1 are:
- Friends of Wilthorpe Park, Barnsley intend to plant a fruit orchard in the park near to Wilthorpe Primary School. The project will also be planting trees that benefit the Willow Tit which feeds on early flowering species and inhabits the park. £450 was awarded to plant 15 trees to maximise carbon sequestration.
- Friends of Loxley Cemetery Group was awarded £250 to plant an oak tree with pupils of Loxley Primary School to commemorate the 161st anniversary of the Great Sheffield Floods.
- Sheffield Dirt Society at Bolehills BMX track, Sheffield is planting 16 native and fruit trees and 6m of hedgerow. This forms part of the current renovation to improve the site by volunteers who maintain it and organise events.
- Nether Edge and Sharrow Sustainable Transformation (NESST) is a community endeavour to improve, maintain and watch over their urban environment. The group was awarded £2,450, 50% of the costs to plant seven new street trees. The project supports community cohesion by crowdfunding the remaining costs, whilst improving public space, wildlife and biodiversity.
- Maltby Community Hub CIC improves the social, physical and mental well-being of location residents, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It was awarded £2,500 for the Green Horizons project which will plant 30 native and ornamental trees to boost biodiversity and empower volunteers with orchard workshops. There will be community planting days led by the experienced Happy Gardeners of Maltby to demonstrate proper planting techniques and ongoing maintenance.
Staff and volunteers from Maltby Community Hub CIC planting trees supported by the Grant FundRound 2 ( now closed )
Round 2 of A Tree For Everyone Grant Fund was aimed at projects that intend to invest in tree planting over the next 12 months and complete by March 2026. The longer timeline provides an opportunity for new groups or groups new to tree planting in priority areas, to be supported in developing a project from start to finish. £41,000 was available for grants up to £2,500 which could include peer support or training on tree planting and aftercare.
Administration of the Grant Fund
The Grant Fund was managed on South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s behalf by South Yorkshire's Community Foundation (SYCF). In 2023, SYCF awarded £1.8 million in grants to 410 community groups across South Yorkshire, impacting over 25,000 individuals.
A key focus of SYCF is to engage and assist community members who often lack representation in traditional funding applications and a range of activities. This encompasses individuals such as those from different ethnic minority backgrounds, residents with limited social and economic opportunities, and those with disabilities. SYCF will provide signposting to other organisations for advice and alternative funding sources where appropriate.
More about the Mayor and his tree planting campaign