Take part in the Big Climate Fightback!

As global temperatures continue to rise, we need to use every tool available to fightback against climate change. One of the greatest weapons we have is trees. Trees are fantastic for absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and protecting nature and wildlife from the adverse impacts of climate change, and we need more of them!

This March the Woodland Trust are organising the Big Climate Fightback, where thousands of communities across the UK will be planting trees to help combat climate change. We want to get 50 million trees in the ground by 2025 and we need you help to do it!

We want to see students planting trees on university campuses, in their local woods and any other suitable land they can find!

‍

How to Apply?

You can apply for up to 420 free trees to plant during the last week of March. The deadline for applying is the 13th February 2022.

To apply for your trees, you will need permission from the relevant landowner, and enough space to plant your trees. It is also important to consider how you will look after the trees once they have been planted. For more information see our FAQs below.

If you're still not sure about hosting a planting event, we will be holding a Tree Planting guidance workshop at the start of February, so stay tuned for more information about that.

Please find the application form to apply for free trees here.

‍

FAQs

Where shall I plant my trees?

Your trees will need enough space to survive, so we recommend planting trees about two metres apart. Good places to start looking are local schools, public parks or on your university campus.

·       A 30 sapling pack will cover around one tennis court, or create 6-8 metres of double-row hedging

·       A 105 sapling pack will cover 4 tennis courts, or create a double-row hedgerow of 20-25 metres

·       A 420 sapling pack will cover a football pitch, or create a double-row hedgerow of 85-100 metres

You will need permission from the legal landowner before applying for the trees and you must know the six-digit grid reference for the land you wish to plant, using google maps.

To find out more on Where to Plant click here https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/advice/where/

How do I plant my trees?

Before you start planting, mark out where each tree will be placed using stones, spray paint or canes. If your planting area is overgrown, cut the grass short and weed. This will make planting easier and reduce competition for water, helping your saplings to thrive.

To find out more on how to plant a tree click here https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/advice/how-to-plant/  

How do I care for my trees once they are planted?

The first step to care for your trees is to make sure everyone knows where they are! Tree saplings can be quite small and many people don’t realise it’s a tree at all. To avoid trees from being weeded or mowed away, make sure facilities and the landowner know where they are.  

Trees will come with tree guards which should help to protect the trees from natural predators and mark them out with more ease.  After this, it is good practice to create a weed-free ring 1 metre in diameter around the tree, to reduce competition for water and nutrients for the first year. Your trees will adapt to natural conditions so shouldn't need watering.

To find out more about how to care for your trees click here https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/advice/care/

‍