Over £3.5million funding awarded to Welsh woodlands and tiny forests

07/11/2024

A stream surrounded by trees with autumn leaves

Photo: Tim Jones Photography 2015.

Two new rounds of grants are helping projects across Wales to create, restore or enhance woodlands and engage local communities in nature.

Thirty-three new projects are receiving funding in the final round of awards made by The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG) and Coetiroedd Bach: Tiny Forests in Wales programmes.

Both schemes are part of the Welsh Government National Forest for Wales. The initiative aims to address biodiversity loss and support the health and wellbeing of communities by creating a well-managed network of woodlands and forests.

The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG)

TWIG offers grants between £40,000 and £250,000 for projects to establish or improve accessible woodlands that help people connect with nature. We're delivering the TWIG programme in partnership with the Welsh Government.

In the programme’s fifth and final round, 20 new projects have been awarded funding adding up to more than £3million. Organisations receiving grants include:

The Penllergare Trust is receiving £249,150 to transform the valley into a National Forest Hub by improving access to historic woodlands and the Equatorial Observatory.
The National Trust is receiving £248,742 to enhance Colby Woodland Garden’s ancient woodland through improved footpaths, new plantings and a community orchard.
Treborth Botanical Gardens is receiving £248,308 to reinvigorate the Maritime Woodland and foster a sense of ownership among the community through volunteer programmes.
North Wales Wildlife Trust is receiving £194,929 to restore native rainforest to Bryn Ifan and involve local people in tackling climate change.

Children sitting on grass at the edge of a woodland listening to an adult

Coetiroedd Bach: Tiny Forests in Wales

This programme is supporting organisations to create Tiny Forests. About the size of a tennis court, these compact areas of woodland contain over 20 different species of native trees and are planted and cared for by local communities. We are distributing Coetiroedd Bach: Tiny Forests in Wales on behalf of the Welsh government.

The third round of funding, worth more than £500,000, has now been awarded to 13 projects. Between them, the projects will create 16 new Tiny Forests in towns and cities across Wales.

The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “I recently visited a Coetir Bach in Llangors and it is a fantastic example of how these woodland sites are enabling communities to access nature and green spaces as well as introducing rich biodiversity into urban areas.

“These small, densely packed woodland areas are fast-growing and can attract more than 500 animal and plant species in their first three years.

“I am really pleased to be able to announce that we have awarded more than half a million pounds worth of funding to create more areas like this across Wales.”