Community Forest Trust

CFT funds substantial projects that prioritise tree planting, green infrastructure, agroforestry, community orchards, urban greening and biodiversity enhancement. Support extends to work that creates habitat corridors, public recreation spaces, skills development and climate education. The Trust operates across urban and peri-urban England, with particular strength in the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Cumbria, including Community Forests such as the Mersey Forest, City of Trees, White Rose Forest, Cumbria Community Forest and Great Western Community Forest. It favours work that delivers measurable public benefit through community or landowner partnerships and can be delivered at meaningful scale.

Registered charities, community groups, schools, local authorities, voluntary organisations, farmers and landowners are eligible. CFT works especially with organisations serving disadvantaged urban populations, young people and peri-urban communities. It accepts applications from organisations across England, concentrating on the regions and Community Forests listed above. No strict income threshold is set, but successful applicants tend to be medium-to-large bodies with the capacity for large-scale delivery. Partnerships are central: applicants are expected to bring community or landowner involvement, ensuring public benefits are embedded in each project. There is no religious restriction.

CFT does not provide funding for core costs or unrestricted income. Grants are directed at tangible, capital-led projects rather than day-to-day running expenses. The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications, so uninvited proposals are unlikely to be considered.

CFT funds substantial projects and usually works through invitation-only local Community Forest partnerships. It leverages government and philanthropic match funding to support landscape-scale outcomes, combining practical on-the-ground delivery with strategic national influence. The Trust does not consider unsolicited applications, so funding is typically accessed by partners already connected to its Community Forest networks.