Information on Loughborough

Free Trees

Posted on 01/07/2008
P. Klein

oak tree near loughborough

A new free Tree Scheme for farmers and rural landowners has been launched as part of Leicestershire County Council’s tree planting initiative. The scheme is aimed at replacing lost trees in rural areas of the county.

Since the early 1980s, the county has lost over 50% of its single landscape trees from rural areas. This is largely due to the ravages of Dutch Elm Disease and other disorders, such as Ash Decline, in the 1980s. More recently disorders such as Chestnut Bleeding Canker and Oak Decline are adding to this loss.

In addition to increasing its own planting programme on road verges, the County Council will be providing trees for farmers and landowners to plant in hedgerows, field boundaries, field corners and in parkland areas. Sites adjacent to, and visible from, main road corridors will be preferred but any site on rural land, which is visible to the public, will be considered. The scheme does not cover private gardens or the National Forest area where a range of tree planting grants are available from the National Forest Company.

The initiative will be a partnership arrangement where the County Council supplies the trees and planting materials and the landowner does the planting and subsequent aftercare.

County Council Leader, David Parsons said Trees make a huge contribution to our environment and the Free Tree scheme demonstrates the County Council’s commitment to safeguarding and enhancing the Countys landscapes

Farmers and rural landowners interested in applying for Free Trees should contact the Forestry Office at County Hall on 0116 3056922.