Shropshire Council, in central England, has launched three partnership schemes to help bring an extra 45,000 trees into the county’s landscape. Residents, land-owners and Parish Councils can benefit from the most extensive free tree’ offer the area has yet seen.

The Hedge Tree Project is a national initiative from the Tree Council and was established with the help of the northern Shropshire Tree Warden scheme. Over three miles of hedging are now available for distribution to community groups and landowners anywhere in Shropshire.

The intention is for local hedgerows to be restored with native hedge species, such as oak and ash. Applicants will be given the trees in exchange for agreeing to nurture them through to maturity.

Meanwhile, the Northern Shropshire Coppice Creation is a one-year project aiming to work with ten landowners in the northern regions of the county, each providing one hectare of land. These will be developed into sustainably managed woodland for wood fuel production. Land owners accepted onto the scheme will be eligible to receive training at Walford College and help with planting the trees, as well as their aftercare.

The third project, Shropshire’s Annual Free Tree Scheme, is providing trees for planting alongside, or within sight of, a public highway or footpath, available to community groups and landowners.

County Councillor Steven Charmley urged local people to help develop their surrounding landscape. ‘It’s crucial that we work together on campaigns such as these and encourage more people to get involved in local conservation projects. We would particularly like to hear from groups such as Parish Councils, who have a plot of land they can grow as community woodland, to provide wood fuel for residents, or an amenity space for quiet recreation, wildlife and education.’

To apply for free trees
Contact: Shropshire Council,
Outdoor Recreation,
Shirehall, Abbey Foregate,
Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6ND
Tel: +44 (0)1743 252569
Website: www.shropshire.gov.uk

Tree planting at Ifton Meadows
nature reserve, a former colliery
in St. Martins, Oswestry, Shropshire
Photo: © Diane Monether