Residents on the Isle of Wight will have the opportunity to receive a free tree thanks to a partnership between the Isle of Wight council’s Parks and Countryside team and Natural Enterprise’s Gift to Nature.
The initiative, which is a pilot program, will see 500 trees given away on a first-come, first-served basis as part of the council’s commitment to supporting biodiversity gain and reaching net zero.
Who can apply
The trees being offered include Crab apple, Wild cherry, Rowan, Hazel, Birch, Scots Pine, Beech, Hawthorn and Oak. Any resident with space available on their land to care for and grow a young tree can apply, but the trees must be planted within the applicant’s own property.
Residents can apply online for a free tree, with a limited supply of 500 trees available. Paper application forms are also available from County Hall reception in Newport. Organisations are asked not to apply through this process, but can contact [email protected] if they are interested in being involved in tree planting efforts next year.
Bacon: Committed to tackling climate change
Cllr Jonathan Bacon, Cabinet member for the environment, commented on the initiative, saying,
“We are pleased to be supporting this initiative along with Natural Enterprise’s Gift to Nature.
“We are committed to tackling climate change and reducing our carbon footprint, and more tree planting is a key part of this, as outlined in our Climate and Environment Strategy.”
Dix: Help us make the Island sustainable
Natasha Dix, strategic manager for the environment, added,
“This free tree giveaway is a great opportunity for our local Island community to get involved and help us work towards our aspirations in making the Island a sustainable place to live and work.”
Matthews: Apply as soon as possible to make sure you don’t miss out
Lee Matthews, strategic manager for recreation and open spaces, encouraged residents to apply for a free tree as soon as possible, saying,
“It is great that the council can help promote the planting of new trees through this free giveaway to our Island community and I encourage anyone with suitable land to apply as soon as possible to make sure you don’t miss out.
“By planting new trees, we are helping to combat the devastating impact of Ash Dieback and the expected effects on the Island’s landscape over the next few years.”
The tree saplings, known as whips, will be unbranched young trees approximately 0.5-1.0m in height and 2-3 years old.
Deadline for collection
Successful applicants will need to collect their tree whips between 10th and 13th January or 17th and 20th January 2023.
For more information on the Isle of Wight Biosphere and the tree giveaway, please see the Website or complete the online form.
