Growing Greener Futures: Expanding Tree Planting Across Ayrshire sponsored by Land Energy
After successful pilots in South Ayrshire, the native tree planting grant programme has been extended extended and with it, a shared vision for stronger woodland connectivity, greater biodiversity, and more resilient landscapes.
Designed for small-scale projects, the programme offers grants of up to £1,000 to support the planting of native trees in the form of tree lines, copses, field margins, orchards, and more — with eligible planting areas capped at 0.25 hectares.
Supporting Landowners and Landscapes
The programme is administered by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere (GSAB), with its Land Use and Biodiversity team providing full support — from advisory visits and grant processing to post-planting monitoring and ongoing project tracking.
In 2024–2025, total funding of £25,317 was secured through a collaboration between South Ayrshire Council, Scottish Forestry and Land Energy, covering the costs of trees, protective materials, and fencing.
A Year in Numbers
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29 expressions of interest
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19 applications received
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16 approved and processed
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1,818 trees planted
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2.8 hectares of planting area
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£14,882.07 in grants offered
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£14,644.77 spent
What Was Planted and Where
The 16 approved projects reflected a wide variety of tree types and planting purposes:
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Orchard: 1
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Riparian (riverside): 3
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Copse: 5
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Field margin: 1
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Line of trees: 4
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Woodland: 2
Willow and alder were especially popular for wet or riverside areas, while birch, aspen, oak, rowan, spindle, and guelder rose offered diversity and wildlife value. Heritage fruit trees will support pollinators and provide local communities with seasonal produce, while the creation of mixed broadleaf woodlands adds essential food and nesting habitat for birds.
Community Outreach in Action
Many projects encouraged community participation, particularly from schools and colleges:
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Straiton Primary School helped plant a rowan copse at Balbeg Estate, learning about trees and wildlife in the process.
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Ayrshire College horticulture students constructed tree enclosures and planted protective hedgerows around oak trees at Loch Doon.
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At Minuntion Estate in the Stinchar Valley, Barr Primary School pupils explored riparian planting and its benefits to rivers and land.
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The Ayrshire Rivers Trust submitted three projects on behalf of various stakeholders, and one was completed; the others were delayed due to landowner permissions.
More Than Just Trees: Building Awareness and Engagement
Beyond its environmental outcomes, the programme has proven to be a powerful tool for education, outreach, and engagement. For private landowners, it offers a gateway into more sustainable land management. For schools and communities, it creates hands-on opportunities to connect with nature and foster ecological literacy.
With each advisory visit, GSAB’s Nature Recovery Officer helps landowners and groups understand the value of native trees, both to their land and the wider ecosystem. These conversations often spark deeper interest in long-term biodiversity improvements.
Importantly, the act of planting trees also helps tackle eco-anxiety in young people by turning concern into action — an increasingly vital aspect of environmental education.
Looking Ahead
This year’s programme saw three times more projects approved than the pilot year — a clear sign of growing interest. The range of participants, from schools to smallholders, highlights the broad relevance of the initiative.
As GSAB continues to build stronger ties with organisations like NFUS and agricultural publications, there’s hope that more farmers and smallholders will come on board. The programme is ready to support them.
Ultimately, the real value of this initiative lies in its ability to combine environmental impact with community involvement, inspiring a more connected and sustainable Southern Ayrshire — one tree at a time.