Free tree Back Garden Forest giveaways
We'll be announcing dates and locations for 2026 and 2027 in the near future. Please keep a look out on our News & Events page and sign up for the newsletter.
If you’re a community, with plans or ideas for planting trees then we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch and tell us what you’d like to do, or have already planned by using our Contact Us form. We are launching a new F4C Community Fund - find out more below.
We support communities to plant trees with:
advice for tree planting
supporting the development of plans for tree maintenance
helping you find funding and grants
training in tree planting and maintenance, pruning, and identification
bringing together volunteers with projects
supporting community networks
encouraging the sharing of ideas between communities
engaging children and residents
signposting to other opportunities and celebrating trees through community events
Funding sources:
The Forest For Cornwall Community Fund is now open for applications for small scale tree planting projects which benefit the local community. Grants can be awarded up to a maximum of £4000 covering the following:
£2500 for trees and related tree protection such as hedgerows under 100m, orchards, public green spaces as well as tree shelters or guards and mulch. All trees must be sourced from a Plant Healthy registered nursery.
£1500 for project related items directly linked to tree establishment and community benefit such as training or events which are open to all and linked to tree planting, some watering items and some tools to aid in establishment, seed propagating materials for Community Tree Nurseries as well as interpretation boards for community tree planting schemes.
If you would like more detail please have a look at our Community Fund information sheet.
You can also collect a free tree or trees for your community planting at our Back Garden Forest Free Tree Giveaways. The locations and dates for this year will be announced soon.
Grants from the Tree Council: The Tree Council offers a range of grants for community groups, schools, charities, farmers and landowners. You can apply for grants ranging from £250 to £40,000. There is also the opportunity to order whips for your project.
People's Trust for Endangered Species: Orchard Grants. Funds available for old and new orchards. Applications open in the autumn.
Cornwall Climate & Nature Fund Crowdfunder: If you have a community project, an event, a social enterprise or are looking to create or restore natural habitat you can apply for matched funding. If you succeed in raising your funding goal then Cornwall Council will match the amount. Projects supported so far include clean energy technology, market gardens, expanding enterprises, and educational programmes that help people connect with their environment.
Contact Us if you would like to discuss funding for your project
Do You Run, Work At, or Use An NHS Healthcare Site? If so have you thought about planting trees on the site? The NHS Forest can help providing trees, but they can also help with much more! Their projects have included occupational therapy gardens, staff allotments, productive orchards, mini meadows, outdoor gyms, rooftop terraces, wildlife ponds and more, with the aim of improving both patient and staff wellbeing.
Parish canopy maps
These maps show the canopy cover in your area (from aerial photos taken in 2016). They can be very useful tool in decision making for your project. They also show the % canopy cover for your parish. There is further technical information and a sample map. If you would like a canopy map for your parish please Contact Us
Are you or your community thinking of planting trees on Cornwall Council land such as verges and open spaces? Have a look at our step by step guide to getting permission to plant.
Recent Projects
Take a look at our projects page which shows the range of projects we support
Utilities Checks: If you are planting trees it is essential to carry out the necessary utilities checks. We have outlined some guidance to assist you with this.
Plastic Tree Guards and Recycling
Plastic tree guards can become a problem if they are not removed. They can restrict the growth of your tree and also add plastic debris into the environment. Tree guards can be removed after about three years in public spaces.
In Cornwall we are lucky to have one of the few Recycling Hubs for Tubex plastic tree guards. This is hosted for free by The Grower at St Agnes. The company were concerned about the potential for more plastic waste in the landscape as tree planting increases. The Grower have volunteered to take any make of PP and PE tree guards you remove between May and September. 2024 is a trial year for this service, so please help The Grower prove the service is required in Cornwall by using it. Tubex also have some handy guidance on the removal of tree guards.
The Forestry Commission is asking for help to locate redundant tree guards so that they can be recycled. They have created Plot That Plastic, a new app where you can add tree guard sightings. The FC will work with landholders and volunteers to remove tree guards in the future.
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By planting trees across Cornwall you are making an important contribution to the natural environment. You are also helping Cornwall's efforts to become carbon neutral. It would be great to hear about your tree planting, please use our Contact Us form.