Trees4TW is being launched during National Tree Week, the UK’s biggest annual tree celebration which also marks the start of the winter tree planting season.

The free trees are a mix of native species sourced in the UK, including oak, beech, crab apple, silver birch and rowan, plus hedgerow species that include hawthorn, dog rose, blackthorn and crab apple. Together they will provide a valuable habitat for wildlife and storing carbon.

Residents can apply for a single tree for their back garden, schools can apply for up to 30 trees, and charities, businesses and landowners can apply for up to 500.  As tree canopy cover is lowest in the north of the borough, the Council is particularly keen to receive applications from here.

Cllr Carolyn Healy, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for the natural environment and climate change, said: “Latest Government figures show that the UK is falling far behind on its tree-planting targets which needs to be addressed urgently if we are to tackle the climate crisis.

“The Council declared a Climate Emergency on 25 July last year and committed to become carbon neutral by 2030 with an aspiration for the whole borough to achieve this too. And whilst it sometimes feels that the climate crisis is too big an issue to grasp, we can all do something about it and make a difference.

“Trees4TW will help you to do that for free. We have a variety of trees available, so whether you are a resident with a small back garden or a local organisation with a bigger piece of land, we have the right tree for the right place.”

In addition to the trees planted through the Council’s Trees4TW initiative, the Fellowship of Trees has given 445 oak trees to Extinction Rebellion Telford, which will be shared with the Friends of Dothill Local Nature reserve, Telford Woods, Granville Park and others.

More details on how to claim your tree here.

The deadline to apply for trees is noon on 18 December 2020, so get your order in.  Orders will then be processed ready for when the trees arrive in the borough in January. On arrival they will be checked and dispatched to their climate-loving custodians in one of the Council’s new electric vehicles. #SustainableTW #Countryfile #PlantBritain