Claim free trees to help Woodland Trust fight climate change and reach five-million milestone
Senior PR officer
The Woodland Trust is urging schools and communities to join the fight against climate change and nature loss – and reach a remarkable five million free trees planted since 2020 – by taking advantage of its latest tree-pack giveaway.
Applications for the charity’s ever-popular free tree packs scheme are open now and schools and community groups are needed to push up the numbers of trees planted by 800,000 to reach a whopping five million.
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 in the spring of 2023 delivered a total of 540,630 saplings to 3,272 organisations across the UK:
- England: 452,055 trees to 2,811 schools and community groups
- Scotland: 54,570 trees to 288 schools and community groups
- Wales: 33,105 trees to 173 schools and community groups
Trees are one of our strongest defences against the climate and nature crisis. Evidence shows they combat the devastating effects of flooding, pollution and extreme weather and temperatures. They are the ultimate carbon stores. They are essential havens for wildlife and people. And they make the planet a healthier, happier place for everyone.
The Woodland Trust is committed to planting another 50 million native trees across the UK by 2030 and is urging people to get behind our mission to plant more trees and help us create a greener world.
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. There’s no time like the present, so sign up and take advantage of the scheme.”
The Woodland Trust’s tree packs have been generously funded by lead partners Sainsbury's, Lloyds Bank, OVO Energy, Bank of Scotland and Sofology.
The UK’s largest woodland conservation charity has given away 13.9 million trees since 2010. And if schools and communities can rise to the challenge and claim 800,000 saplings in the current round, that figure will be approaching a staggering 15 million, an average of more than 1 million every year.
Notes to editors
The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK with more than 500,000 supporters. It wants to see a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature.
The Trust has launched its ‘Plant More Trees’ climate campaign with a mission to plant 50 million trees across the UK by 2030. The charity is suggesting a £5 donation to help plant trees and fight the climate crisis, but every pound makes a difference.
Science shows that woods and trees combat the devastating effects of climate change: flooding, pollution, and extreme weather and temperature. They are also the ultimate carbon captors, absorbing atmospheric carbon and locking it up for generations.
The message is clear: trees are one of the best ways to tackle the climate and nature crisis. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk #plantmoretrees
The Trust has three key aims:
- protect ancient woodland, which is rare, unique and irreplaceable
- restoration of damaged ancient woodland, bringing precious pieces of our natural history back to life
- establish native trees and woods with the aim of creating resilient landscapes for people and wildlife
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 29,000 hectares. Access to its woods is free so everyone can benefit from woods and trees.