Communities spruce up 37 sites across county thanks to charity’s free trees scheme.
The West Midlands falls below the national average when it comes to tree cover so local youngsters and community groups are taking action by getting their hands dirty and planting thousands of trees.
This week 3,500 tree packs will delivered to schools and community groups throughout the UK as part of the Woodland Trust’s FREE TREES scheme, sponsored by Sainsbury’s, IKEA, Yorkshire Tea and People’s Postcode Lottery.
The West Midlands has just 5.8% tree cover compared to the national average of 13%.
Some groups have chosen to plant their trees to commemorate the centenary of the First World War, chiming with the charity’s own ambitions to create four large Centenary woods for the public’s use by 2018 – 100 years since the end of the conflict.
While the groups’ reasons for planting the packs of free trees are individual, the benefits to the county will be lasting. Trees capture carbon, create homes for wildlife, provide oxygen, improve air quality and can provide sustainable fuel. And yet the UK as a whole lags way behind the rest of Europe when it comes to tree numbers.
John Tucker, the Woodland Trust’s Woodland Creation Director, said: “It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm for the Woodland Trust’s free tree packs. It takes just 10 years for trees to grow well above head-height, so communities could be enjoying the rewards sooner than you’d think, as well as creating a lasting, living legacy for future generations.
“Currently the UK has significantly less woodland cover than the rest of Europe. Communities’ efforts to plant in their own localities to benefit the people who live there is admirable and helps us work toward our target of doubling native woodland cover.”
And it’s not too late to get involved. Inspired? Free tree packs will be available this autumn, too. Interested schools and community groups can find out more by visiting www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/freetrees or emailing communitytrees@woodlandtrust.org.uk Registration for autumn tree packs closes on September 3 2015.