Leicestershire is one of the least wooded areas of the country with currently around 6% woodland.
Thousands of pounds are going to Leicestershire County Council to help towards their ambitious tree planting target.
They have set the aim to plant 700,000 trees, which is one for every resident.
Leicestershire is one of the least wooded areas of the country with currently around 6% woodland – well below the national average of 10%.
The authority has been successful in its bid for £150,000 from the Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund.
The grant will be used to support and deliver a number of tree-planting initiatives across the county over the next two years, including creating a new woodland officer post.
The council has also been awarded £55,830 from the Forestry Commission’s Treescapes Fund, which will be used for a number of planting initiatives in the county, including new woodland creation and planting at the side of roads.
Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for the environment and the green agenda, said: "Leicestershire’s trees and woodlands can provide multiple benefits that improve the quality of life for our citizens and communities. We have identified tree and woodland planting as part of our response to the climate change and biodiversity crises and are working towards helping to plant a tree for every resident, with more than 110,000 planted so far.
"The new funding will help deliver our ambitious objectives and provide expertise for ensuring advice, support and direct delivery of tree planting schemes can be achieved, accessing both our own funding for tree planting and from external bodies such as the Forestry Commission."
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