Landowners across Lichfield and Burntwood are being asked to consider planting trees to help mitigate the impact of climate change.
The Woodland Trust is taking applications for the MOREwoods woodland creation scheme ahead of the planting season in November.
Emma Briggs, senior project lead for woodland creation at the charity, said:
“A common misconception about creating woodland is that you need a lot of land but the beauty of MOREwoods is that you only need half a hectare to be eligible, which is around the size of half a rugby pitch.
“Whether you’re a farmer, smallholder, private business, NHS Trust, education campus or an individual, there are so many reasons to plant trees.
“We are in the grips of a climate and nature emergency and trees are natural warriors in the fight against both.
“They lock up carbon, enrich soils, improve water quality, slow the flow of flooding, provide shade, shelter and a haven for wildlife and of course they look good too.”
Emma Briggs, The Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme is open to anyone wanting to plant woodland of at least 500 trees on at least half a hectare of land.
The charity will help design the woodland, create a species mix, help with form filling, supply the agreed trees and protection, and cover up to 75% of costs as well as arrange for contractors to plant the trees.
For more information visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant or call 0330 333 3300.
How about stop building houses on green belt land and leave natural habitats as they should be?
Fantastic idea but from what I’ve seen at Streethay and several HS2 sites, what is actually planted is a sea of plastic with tiny saplings inside. I appreciate that saplings need protection from gnawing mammals but surely there’s a more environmentally friendly way of achieving this?
It’s a bit like Tory councillors supporting food banks, we shouldn’t have to be doing this in the first place. The opportunity to become a Green nation sailed in 2017 and 2019. Pollution is increasing exponentially, and planting a few trees only allows the original criminals to dodge. Industrialisation is.the major issue, neoliberal capital the driver. The human race is already teetering on extinction, COVID is a massive warning.
Adam unfortunetly there isn’t
ML what if saplings were allowed to grow for longer before being planted out?
Linda they would still need rabbit guards to protect them