The Tree Council
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Tree Council suits groups whose work is community tree, hedge, orchard or street tree planting, especially where local schools, young people and volunteers take part.
- Branching Out grants are set at £250 to £2,500, so a modest scheme fits, while the Trees Outside Woodland Fund is stated at £10,000 to £40,000 for larger schemes.
- Branching Out does not fund groups based outside the UK, businesses, private individuals or landowners, groups without public liability insurance, or retrospective requests for projects already started or completed, and it does not routinely fund professional fees or volunteer costs.
- Applications close at the published deadline for each round, or earlier if funding is fully allocated, so apply well before the close.
- The charity says it decides within 5-6 weeks of a completed submission, so allow about six weeks before you need the money.
Overview
The Tree Council is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 279000).
The Tree Council exists to promote, for the public benefit, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment through the planting, care, nurture and cultivation of trees in town and country. Over the past 20+ years, it has supported community groups, volunteer Tree Wardens and many others to plant hundreds of thousands of trees across the UK, thanks to generous Tree Partners and other supporters. Its annual giving was £753,967 in its latest annual report. Its programmes include the Branching Out grants, the Trees Outside Woodland Fund, the Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund and the SP Energy Networks Community Tree Planting Fund.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The Tree Council directs its grant support to community tree, hedgerow and orchard projects, including projects that boost agricultural productivity and create publicly accessible green spaces for physical and mental well-being. Its programmes support smaller community planting and larger schemes to establish trees outside woodland. Branching Out supports community groups, schools, not-for-profits, residents’ associations, Tree Warden Networks and small charities, for projects planting trees, hedges, hedgerow trees and orchards. It favours proposals with strong community involvement, local schools and young people, broad community participation, good value for money and links to wider environmental initiatives. It prefers locally sourced trees and volunteer-managed delivery, with a considered establishment and aftercare plan; larger projects should address risk and show that their site is suitable. Its funding also covers some tree-establishment aids and projects on public or leased land.
Themes
- Community tree planting
- Hedge planting
- Street trees
- Copses
- Orchards
- Young people
- Public green spaces
Geographic Focus
England; Wales; Scotland; Northern Ireland.
What they don't fund
- Branching Out Fund only:
- Groups not based in the UK
- Businesses, private companies and profit-making organisations
- Private individuals and/or landowners
- Groups seeking retrospective funding for projects that have already started or have been completed
- Groups that do not have public liability insurance
- Professional fees or labour, which it does not routinely fund
- Container-grown stock, except in certain circumstances where selected species may not be available bare-rooted, or it is the only supply available locally
- Imported stock, except when unavoidable (please get in touch)
- Single species planting, unless in an appropriate setting and with a valid reason shown
- Certain invasive or rapidly-growing species e.g. Laurel, Leyland cypress, cherry laurel
- Non-native conifers unless in certain circumstances (e.g. urban areas, arboretum, or projects where pollutant control is a key objective.)
- Other project resources to support tree establishment such as irrigation equipment like watering cans/irrigation aids, PPE, plastic tree guards / ties
- Plastic mulch mats
- Peat-based products
- Heavy equipment / plant hire, e.g. diggers and tractors
- Volunteer or contractor costs
- Tree protection or other materials for trees that have not been funded by The Tree Council (i.e. free tree packs from other tree planting charities.)
How to apply
For Branching Out, applicants submit an online application form.
Deadlines: Applications close at the published deadline for each round, or earlier if funding is fully allocated.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- The fund favours projects that include several elements from its assessment criteria.
- It values strong community involvement.
- It values involvement from local schools.
- It favours young people taking part in planning, delivery and aftercare.
- It values broad participation across age, gender and ethnicity.
- It looks for good value for money.
- It values projects that form part of wider environmental initiatives.
- It prefers trees sourced locally from local or community tree nurseries.
- It expects a considered establishment and aftercare plan.
- It values involvement from local Tree Wardens.
- It favours volunteer-managed and delivered projects.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to The Tree Council.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- Schools & community groups£634,257year to 31 March 2025
- Network Rail£119,710year to 31 March 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 March 2021 | £1,294,902 | £1,177,714 | £503,884 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2021 |
| year to 31 March 2022 | £2,803,166 | £2,794,169 | £1,847,087 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2022 |
| year to 31 March 2023 | £2,524,224 | £2,291,346 | £1,104,679 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2023 |
| year to 31 March 2024 | £2,152,669 | £2,342,055 | £863,545 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2024 |
| year to 31 March 2025 | £2,756,571 | £2,374,411 | £753,967 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2021; year to 31 March 2022; year to 31 March 2023; year to 31 March 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- treecouncil.org.uk
- treecouncil.org.uk/grants-and-guidance/our-grants · read on 30 October 2026
- treecouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Branching-Out-Fund-Application-Guidance-2026_27.pdf · read on 30 October 2026
- treecouncil.org.uk/grants-and-guidance/our-grants/branching-out-fund · read on 30 October 2026
- treecouncil.org.uk/grants-and-guidance/our-grants/trees-outside-woodland-fund · read on 30 October 2026
- treecouncil.org.uk/grants-and-guidance/our-grants/network-rail-community-tree-planting-fund · read on 30 October 2026
- treecouncil.org.uk/contact-us · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 March 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to The Tree Council?
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Applying to The Tree Council?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required