Woodland Trust donating free trees to schools and community groups across Bucks, Beds and Herts
They're hoping to plant 50 million across the country by 2030
The Woodland Trust have re-opened their scheme giving away free tree-packs to schools and community groups across the Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
It's part of the charity's commitment to planting 50 million trees by 2030, and are urging people to apply.
It began in 2020, and they're now just 800,000 trees away from having planted five million trees.
Woodland Trust senior project lead Vicki Baddeley said: “We’re so proud of the numbers of free trees we’ve been able to give away, knowing they’ll be planted where they can really make a difference – in school grounds and out in the community.
“We’re in the grip of a climate and nature crisis which can’t be overcome without concerted action, so I’d urge every school or community group who can, to get involved and plant more trees!
“Applying is easy and all saplings are fully funded for those receiving the trees in our autumn delivery in November. All you need is time and a small piece of land to plant on.”
The last round of the Trust’s free tree-packs scheme delivered a total of 540,630 saplings to 3,272 organisations across the UK, including 80,310 trees to 479 schools and community groups in the east of England:
o Bedfordshire – 4,440 trees to 33 organisations
o Buckinghamshire - 5,700 trees to 43 organisations
o Cambridgeshire – 13,020 trees to 63 organisations
o Essex – 16,995 trees to 103 organisations
o Hertfordshire – 8,040 trees to 59 organisations
o Norfolk - 12,000 trees to 71 organisations
o Northamptonshire - 6,030 trees to 36 organisations
o Suffolk – 14,085 trees to 71 organisations
Baddeley added: “In just a few years, your trees will have grown big enough to lock away carbon and be a thriving habitat for wildlife. They’ll offer free shade and shelter and help make the community space or playground, and the people who have access to it, happier and healthier.
“It would be incredible if we can reach a total of five million since 2020 this year – what an achievement and contribution that would be."