Trees and woodland in Wiltshire
Currently, Wiltshire has a combined tree canopy coverage of 14%. Our long term aim is to increase this coverage to 17% in line with national government targets as well as meeting the council's commitments as set out in our Climate strategy, and Green and blue infrastructure strategy.
Wiltshire tree Grant Application and Planting Support (GAPS) team
Helping to fill in the 'GAPS' in our landscape - the Wiltshire Council GAPS team has been set up with funding from the Forestry Commission's Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund to provide support to landowners, community groups and local Town and Parish Councils, to deliver substantially more tree planting across the county in support of our aims.
Working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council's Swindon Borough Council: Great Western Community Forest (opens new window), our team of woodland officers can assist with your project planning and any applications for funding.
Project planning
We will help define the scope and aims of your planting project; identify suitable sites for tree and woodland planting using the 'Right Tree, Right Place' principles; and help you to choose the right funding routes that are most suitable for you and your projects.
Watch YouTube: Trees for Climate Year 4 in numbers (opens new window) to get inspiration from other Community Forest projects around England.
Application for funding
Working with our partners in the Forestry Commission, the Great Western Community Forest, and wider forestry sector partners, we can help you secure funding for the planting, maintenance and, where appropriate, income generation (for example carbon credits) for your planting project.
View the tree planting grant map to discover which areas of Wiltshire are covered by different grants.
Tree planting grant map (opens new window)
Contact the GAPS team
If you would like to plant trees on your land or become a tree warden, or for further information on how we can help you, or if you have any questions, contact us: GAPS@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).
Tree warden scheme
If you want to do more to support the planting of trees in Wiltshire, why not become a tree warden for your Town or Parish Council. As well as helping promote tree planting opportunities at a local level you can help monitor existing trees in your area; discover more about the role on the The Tree Council: Become a volunteer Tree Warden (opens new window) tree warden website. You don't need any experience or prior knowledge of trees as all training will be provided and is accredited by The Tree Council.
Tree wardens can help to:
- survey existing trees
- identify new places to plant trees and local landowners who are keen to plant
- apply for funding for tree, hedgerow and woodland planting in your community
Download the application form (OpenDocument text format, 118 KB)(opens new window) or contact GAPS@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) to register your interest.
Coronation Living Heritage Orchard fund
In Autumn 2023, Wiltshire Council was delighted to received a £50,000 grant to fund the planting of community orchards before March 2025. This money has been made available through the Coronation Living Heritage Fund and DEFRA's £758m Nature for Climate Fund which support the development of community orchards to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III.
Wiltshire's Coronation Living Heritage Orchard (CLHO) fund was open to applications between April and September 2024 from communities from across Wiltshire, including schools and parish councils. Planting is now underway to plant trees in 28 locations throughout Wiltshire.
The fund has supported the purchase of trees, protection measures and establishment costs, as well as a commemorative wooden monolith for the orchards for those that want it, made by a Wiltshire sign-maker. Funds will also support communities to work together to look after and enjoy the orchard, through the provision of benches, tools and juicing equipment.
As well as planting the orchards, communities are also embracing the tradition of wassailing, the ancient custom of visiting orchards in cider-producing reciting incantations and singing to the trees to promote a good harvest for the coming year. New Wiltshire-focussed wassailing songs have been written to mark the occasion.
Members of the public who would like to find out if there is a new or existing community orchard near them so that they can get involved or to receive the words and sheet music to the new wassails can contact GAPS@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).
Applicants
If you have signed agreement document(s) for a Coronation Living Heritage Orchard and wish list items, you can claim a reimbursement for your purchases by downloading, completing and submitting these forms to GAPS@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window). Note that receipts or invoices must be submitted with these claim forms, and photos of your planted orchard must be submitted with the orchard claim form.
CLHO_GrantClaimForm (OpenDocument text format, 351 KB)(opens new window) CLHO_WishListClaimForm (OpenDocument text format, 350 KB)(opens new window)