Greener Neighbourhoods Are Beneficial For Healthier Minds
At Excluded Scotland, we welcome the latest round of the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund as positive and timely news for communities across Scotland. While the environmental value of trees is widely recognised, we believe the mental health and wellbeing benefits of increased access to trees and green space deserve equal attention.
For many people, particularly those living in urban areas, everyday access to nature remains limited. This matters. Evidence consistently shows that regular contact with trees and green spaces can help reduce stress, improve mood, support concentration and encourage social connection. In the context of ongoing pressures on mental health services and widening inequalities, practical investment in greener neighbourhoods can deliver meaningful, preventative benefits for wellbeing.
What Is the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund?
The Urban Forestry Challenge Fund is part of the wider Urban Forestry Programme delivered by the charity Future Woodlands Scotland. Founded in 2012, Future Woodlands Scotland supports innovative thinking for trees and native woodlands, working across both rural and urban settings to deliver long term benefits for communities, nature and the climate.
Through this fund, grants of up to £100,000 are available for projects that support urban greening and tree planting across Scotland’s towns and cities, with a strong emphasis on areas where tree cover is currently lowest and need is greatest.
The 3-30-300 Rule and Why It Matters
Projects supported by the fund are expected to contribute towards the internationally recognised 3-30-300 rule for urban tree cover and access to green space:
• 3: Everyone should be able to see at least three trees from their home, school or workplace
• 30: Every neighbourhood should have at least 30 per cent tree canopy cover
• 300: Everyone should live within 300 metres of quality greenspace
These principles are not abstract targets. They are directly linked to everyday quality of life. Being able to see trees from home or work, walk to a nearby green space, or spend time in shaded streets and parks can all support better mental wellbeing, encourage physical activity and reduce feelings of isolation.
Mental Health, Wellbeing and the Role of Urban Trees
At Excluded Scotland, we are particularly encouraged by the way this fund recognises the social value of trees, not just their environmental function. Greener neighbourhoods can provide calmer, more restorative spaces within busy urban environments. They can support community interaction, provide informal places for reflection and play, and help people feel more connected to where they live.
Urban forestry projects can also offer opportunities for participation, whether through planting, caring for trees, learning new skills or taking part in community led activities. These forms of involvement are known to support confidence, purpose and social connection, all of which are important contributors to mental wellbeing.
What Types of Projects Can Be Funded?
While tree planting is a key focus, the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund places strong emphasis on doing this properly. Projects are expected to consider what trees are planted, where they are planted and how they will be cared for over the long term.
Funding is available for:
• new tree planting
• long term care and maintenance of trees and woodlands
• community engagement and awareness raising
• education, skills development and urban forestry research
• project development costs, including technical advice, design work, staff time and community consultation
Areas with the fewest trees are prioritised, guided by the Tree Equity Tool, which helps ensure that investment is directed towards communities most in need of the benefits that trees and green spaces provide.
Full guidance can be found here https://bit.ly/UrbanForestryFund
What Has Already Been Achieved?
In its first year, the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund supported 12 projects across Scotland. Three of these projects are already planting more than 5,000 trees, while others are laying the foundations for long term urban forestry, including community orchards, woodland restoration and creative engagement projects linked to tree planting.
These early projects demonstrate how targeted funding can help communities reclaim and reshape their local environments in ways that deliver lasting social and health benefits.
Who Can Apply and What Funding Is Available?
Applications are open to not for profit organisations, including community groups, community councils, charities, development trusts, local authorities and partnerships between these bodies.
There are two levels of funding available:
• Smaller grants from £2,000 to £20,000 through a single stage application process
• Larger grants of over £20,000 up to £100,000 through a two stage application process
Funding can be used over a period of up to three years.
Application Deadlines
Applications for both funding levels are currently open. The deadline for all applications is 5pm on 23 January 2026. Decisions on smaller grants are expected by the end of February 2026, with larger grant decisions due in April 2026.
Why This Matters to Us
At Excluded Scotland, we continue to highlight policies and programmes that can deliver real, everyday improvements to people’s lives. Investment in urban trees and green spaces is not a luxury. It is a practical intervention with the potential to improve mental health, reduce inequality and strengthen community resilience.
We encourage community organisations and councils to share this opportunity widely and to consider how urban forestry could play a role in supporting wellbeing in their own areas. Greener places are not just better for the environment. They are better for people.