Purpose

The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed renewed funding for it’s Tree planting and woodland creation programme. This programme will continue through 2041, and will provide capital and revenue funding to England’s Community Forests to deliver tree planting and woodland creation across the country. Plymouth City Council is the lead partner and accountable body for Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest and as per the previous programme (2021 – 2026) will administer the funding of tree planting and woodland creation across Plymouth and the wider Community Forest area.


The decision will approve renewed delivery of Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest’s capital programme, enabling delivery to continue 2026 – 2041.

The Decision will include:

Approval of the addition of capital funding to the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest Capital programme 2026-2041

Approval of the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest Programme 2026-2041 business case

Authorisation of the commencement of procurement required to deliver the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest programme 2026-2041

Delegation of authority for contract award and grant award approvals for woodland creation and tree planting projects to the Head of Natural Environment Service

The Decision is required to enable the Council to accept and use Defra’s Trees for Climate 2026-2041 grant funding allocation, which has been awarded to Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest, from April 2026.