Who can apply?

This fund supports farmers and landowners to plant trees outside of woodland areas in ways that contribute to Hampshire’s Nature Recovery Network, as set out in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Projects should help create, restore, and connect priority habitats, strengthening ecological networks across Hampshire.

Our aim is to support the movement of wildlife through the landscape by restoring or planting linear features such as hedgerows, tree lines, and riparian planting that will also enhance biodiversity and improve climate resilience. By linking existing habitats and creating new stepping-stones for nature, these trees and hedgerows will help reduce fragmentation and support species recovery in both rural and peri-urban areas.

Applications will be assessed based on how well proposed planting sites meet the following criteria:

• Integrating trees into farmed and managed landscapes – supporting nature-friendly farming, soil health, and climate resilience
• Creating visible and accessible green infrastructure – including planting along roadways and rights of way, where appropriate, to deliver benefits for both people and nature
• Planting along rivers and watercourses – enhancing riparian habitats, improving water quality, and supporting aquatic and terrestrial species
• Connecting remote habitats and woodlands and improving landscape connectivity for wildlife