Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) has launched its grant scheme to support planting of new native broadleaf woodlands, hedgerow and landscape trees in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Forest of Bowland and Nidderdale National Landscapes.

YDMT is collaborating with a range of delivery partners across the National Park to help more landowners create woodland and breathing spaces everyone can enjoy, through an innovative grant scheme.

A range of support is on offer, including advice on woodland planting, design and specification, identify funding opportunities and recommend contractors to carry out the work.

After another summer of severe drought and record temperatures, as the climate continues to change, trees are vitally important to provide shaded spaces for livestock and wildlife, help improve biodiversity and retain moisture in the ground and reduce soil erosion.

YDMT Woodlands Manager Carol Douglas said: “We’re really keen to speak to landowners about how we can help with funding and the resources to get trees into the ground this winter.

“We can provide bespoke support for landowners: from supplying and planting a single landscape tree, to creating a large native woodland or enhancing or creating new areas of scrub.

“In certain settings, we may also be able to support the creation or restoration of hedgerow if it links with other woodlands or trees and there are woodland management grants available for small woodlands.”

Working in partnership with local people and volunteers, YDMT has helped landowners plant more than 1.7 million trees since 1997, and last winter a total of 36,474 trees were planted across 46 sites covering some 10 Hectares. In addition, we delivered 15 woodland management plans to enrich biodiversity and the health of small woodlands and removed 69,200 plastic tree guards from woodlands in the Dales.

A previous grant recipient from Ravenstonedale recently spotted a red squirrel in woodlands which had been enhanced for wildlife thanks to a YDMT grant: “Thank you for assisting us to support and enrich our native wildlife. A few weeks ago we sighted a red squirrel in the woodland. We quickly added another three feeders and our red has since returned and allowed us to capture photographic evidence through our wildlife cameras. A massive thank you for all your support and funding.”

If you would like to do something amazing for the people, landscape and wildlife of the area, and have either existing woodland or space to plant some trees then please get in touch via the YDMT website – https://www.ydmt.org/what-we-do/grants/woodland-grants.

Initial expressions of interest must be received by 31 August 2026. YDMT will then offer support to develop planting schemes eligible for a grant application.

For further details contact woodlands@ydmt.org or call 015242 51002.