Wokingham Borough Council launch Garden Forest Scheme
The announcement comes as part of National Tree Week
Wokingham Borough Council has unveiled a pilot Garden Forest Scheme, which will see residents given the opportunity to apply for a tree, or trees for their own garden.
It comes as the council aspires to become a net-zero carbon borough.
Announced during National Tree Week, the scheme aims to plant 250,000 trees over the next five years to increase carbon sequestration rates.
This is a process that sees trees draw excess CO2 from the atmosphere and store it.
The scheme will initially run for two years before being reviewed. A decision will then be made on whether it will be extended.
Applications are open until 31st January 2022 with applicants being contacted throughout March.
In order to be eligible, residents must have space in their garden for a tree or have permission to plant the tree if they do not own the garden.
Successful residents will be given more information on arrangements for collecting a tree, which will be early Autumn 2022 in order to coincide with planting season.
Executive member for planning and enforcement at Wokingham Borough Council, Cllr Wayne Smith, said: "I am really excited that we are able to launch the Garden Forest Scheme, and offer residents another way that they can help towards reaching our goal of a net-zero carbon borough.
We know that as a council we can't do this alone, so being able to offer residents ways in which they can help is so important."
John Tucker, Director of Woodland Outreach at the Woodland Trust, added: "The Woodland Trust is proud to be supporting Wokingham's Tree Project through our Emergency Tree Fund. Planting new trees is a vital step in fighting climate change and nature loss.
By joining in the Garden Forest initiative, residents across Wokingham can play their part and get the lasting benefits of trees to enjoy for years to come."