Somerset West and Taunton (SWT) Council is offering free trees to local councils, unparished areas and community groups to boost planting for National Tree Week.
National Tree Week brings people together in the UK’s largest tree planting event organised by The Tree Council. This year’s event will take place from 26 November to 4 December.
SWT’s “free tree giveaway” scheme supports this event as part of its commitment towards reaching a carbon-neutral district by 2030.
The scheme, which was first introduced in the autumn of 2020, was initially intended for town and parish councils but is now open to community groups.
Local councils, charter trustees and community groups wishing to take part can order from nine different bare root species in any combination up to the value of £100.00 free of charge.
Each tree ordered will be supplied with a stake, tie and guard and made available for collection week commencing 21 November from either Taunton Deane Nurseries, Wellington Depot or Minehead Depot.
Cllr Dixie Darch, Executive Member for Climate Change, said: “Climate consideration is integral to everything we do, and planting trees provides a natural solution to capturing and storing atmospheric carbon, potentially for many centuries.
“On average, a single tree absorbs anywhere between 10 and 40kg of CO2 a year depending on various factors. They also produce oxygen, purify the air, lower the air temperature, help prevent flooding and sustain wildlife. Of course, they’re also very beautiful and lower our stress levels so when we plant trees, we really are planting our future.
“I urge all local councils and community groups to join the effort in offsetting our emissions by taking advantage of this free offer. It’s also an opportunity to plant further trees in commemoration of HM Queen Elizabeth II now that the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) project has been extended.”
To find out more or to place an order for the range of trees on offer, visit the council’s Free trees webpage.
The closing date for requests is Thursday, 20 October 2022 at 6pm.
For further information about National Tree Week or the QGC project, visit: