Over £1million invested in Welsh woodlands, with more funding available

07/02/2023

A group of children wearing wellies and coats explore a woodland

Children explore a mature woodland

Six projects to create or improve woodlands for local communities to use and enjoy are receiving funding from The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG).

We're delivering the TWIG programme in partnership with the Welsh Government, as part of the National Forest for Wales initiative. Grants of £40,000 to £250,000 are available for organisations creating well-managed, accessible woodlands that local communities can engage with in Wales.

“We all benefit from woodlands - they help us and wildlife live healthier lives, they improve our wellbeing, and help us mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis.”

Julie James, Minister for Climate Change

The first of the projects to be funded through the scheme have been announced today. They include creating an accessible urban woodland in collaboration with school pupils in Barry, and restoring native trees to a coastal woodland on the Llŷn Peninsula.

A deciduous woodland — Deciduous woodland is under threat in Wales from the climate crisis and invasive species

Apply for upcoming funding rounds

Minister for Climate Change Julie James said: “It’s been lovely to see the range of applicants awarded grants in the first round of The Woodland Investment Grant.

“With more funding rounds to go, we want more people to come forward and apply for funding so they can grow beautiful outdoor spaces for their local community. We all benefit from woodlands - they help us and wildlife live healthier lives, they improve our wellbeing, and help us mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis.”

To be eligible for TWIG funding, organisations must own land or control its management and want to involve the community in creating, maintaining or improving woodland.

There are three remaining rounds of funding through the TWIG programme. The deadlines to submit an expression of interest are:

16 February 2023 for round three
20 April 2023 for round four
7 December 2023 for round five

Apply for funding for a woodland project in Wales.

A person wearing a white protective suit works to treat and remove an invasive plant species, Japanese knotweet — Woodland can become overwhelmed by fast-growing invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed

Six woodland projects receiving funding

Ymddiriedolaeth Nant Gwrtheyrn is receiving £209,060 to re-establish a native woodland on the steep coastal slopes of the Llŷn Peninsula.
The National Trust is receiving £249,302 to combat the climate crisis and restore ecosystems in Stackpole woodland in Pembrokeshire.
The Awen Cultural Trust is receiving £103,082 to improve woodlands in Bridgend, including community engagement events and removing invasive non-native species.
Pontypridd Town Council’s Meadow Street Woods project is receiving £197,011 to improve biodiversity and open up access to an urban woodland.
Oak Field Primary School is receiving £50,000 to transform an acre of overgrown land in Barry into an urban woodland.
Dŵr Cymru is receiving £250,000 to improve management and visitor access to woodlands around the Llanddegfedd Reservoir near Pontypool.