Applications are now open for the Future of UK Treescapes Fellowship scheme, with up to £50,000 in funding available per fellowship.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is inviting proposals for Treescapes Fellowships as part of the Future of UK Treescapes Programme. The Programme aims to address some of the key challenges surrounding planting and preserving trees, woods and forests in the UK.

Coming years are likely to see a very significant expansion in woodland and forest areas in this country as the government seeks to deliver on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. This will have profound implications for the environmental, social and cultural landscapes of our country, but there are still questions remaining around the best way to move forward.

It will bring fresh perspectives and new thinking into the programme and enable both academics and non-academics a great opportunity to work with people, and in settings, that may be new to them. Professor Clive Potter Ambassador for UK Treescapes

This brand-new scheme will give about seven researchers or non-academics a chance to spend up to twelve months working on a topic related to the Treescapes programme in a new disciplinary, institutional or applied setting. Fellows may choose to spend time exchanging ideas and knowledge related to the Treescapes’ themes, translating environmental and forest research for real-world use, or visiting international institutions to learn about different approaches that could be used in the UK.

Welcoming the Scheme, Professor Clive Potter, Ambassador for the UK Treescapes Programme, said: “This is a very exciting addition to the Future Treescapes portfolio of projects. It will bring fresh perspectives and new thinking into the programme and enable both academics and non-academics a great opportunity to work with people, and in settings, that may be new to them.”

Fellows will be expected to enhance a broader exchange of ideas within the Treescapes Programme by co-ordinating their activities with the Future of UK Treescapes Ambassadors, engaging with UK Treescapes events and activities and interacting with each other throughout the Fellowship.

The Treescapes Fellows will have a very important role in the programme [and] will have a practical impact and develop forest science capacity. Dr Julie Urquhart Ambassador for UK Treescapes

Dr Julie Urquhart, Ambassador for the UK Treescapes Programme said: “The Treescapes Fellows will have a very important role in the programme. The scheme offers opportunities for both academics and practitioners to gain relevant expertise and experience which will have a practical impact and develop forest science capacity.”

Applicants can apply for up to £50,000, including salary, travel and subsistence, for a duration of up to twelve months. Applicants must be clear about how they intend to use the Fellowship to contribute to the Treescapes programme and environmental and forest science capacity more broadly, as well as developing the Fellow’s own skills, understanding and knowledge. In addition to the NERC funding, one fellowship, focusing on tree health, will be funded by Defra.

All applications must be submitted via by email to uktreescapes.glos.ac.uk by 12 noon on 29 July 2022. More details and the link to download the application forms can be found here.