CUMBRIA has successfully applied for funding worth over £200,000 to help with tree boost scheme,

Cumbria County Council applied to the Forestry Commission for the Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF) and was able to secure the full amount for allocation of £228,000.

The LATF is part of the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund and is aimed at establishing more trees in non-woodland settings such as in riverbanks, hedgerows, parklands, urban areas, beside roads and footpaths, in copses and shelterbelts, including neglected, disused and vacant community spaces.

Half of the funding secured will be match-funded by the council’s Environment Fund. The Environment Fund was agreed by Cabinet earlier this year, allocating £200,000 to each of Cumbria’s six Local Committees to be used for verge maintenance and biodiversity improvements, tree maintenance and replacement, and footpath improvements.

Barrow Local Committee will now be working with its communities and councils at a local level to make full use of the funding.

Cllr Kevin Hamilton, Chair of Barrow Local Committee, said:“We’re delighted to have received the maximum allocation of funding for vital environmental improvements in Barrow. This funding is important to not only support and protect the environment but improve the health and wellbeing of people in our communities both mentally and physically by providing greener spaces.

“This programme will allow us to replace the trees that are taken down for footway repairs. We look forward to working with our communities and councils at a local level and making the best possible use of this funding.”