A PROJECT to plant 18 million trees across the wider Glasgow area has been awarded a funding boost of £200,000.

The money will come from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund, the Glasgow City Region cabinet decided on Tuesday.

The cash, due to cover two years, will go towards the decade long Clyde Climate Forest project, which will see trees and woodlands added across eight council areas. 

It will help fund four roles including a director, development manager and operations coordinator for the project. 

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken, SNP, said: “The Clyde Climate Forest has the potential to provide a significant response to the climate and ecological emergency. Our ambition to plant 18 million trees across the City Region over the next decade will bring multiple benefits to our local communities, to Scotland and to our planet.

“This funding support will certainly help drive that ambition forward.”

Max Hislop, director of Clyde Climate Forest, said: “I am delighted that we have received this funding boost with all eight local councils agreeing that the Clyde Climate Forest has a vital role to play in making the Glasgow city region resilient to the impacts of a changing climate, helping to achieve net zero, and repairing our damaged ecosystems.”

A council statement said: “Many landowners have been approached to plant woodlands in key locations for wildlife with several projects in development, and tree planting assessments have been completed of council owned land.”

The Clyde Climate Forest was launched in June 2021 and has seen more than 1.2m trees added to areas across the region.

Of these, around 50,000 trees have been planted in urban areas by schoolchildren and community groups. 

The launch was funded thanks to £400,000 “from the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund and a funding commitment by Scottish Forestry”, according to a paper that was to be presented to the Glasgow City Region cabinet.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said: “The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is about empowering local leaders and communities, and it is great to see the whole region working together to deliver the Clyde Climate Forest. This will support climate and biodiversity goals and create a better environment for residents to enjoy.”