Landownwers invited to plant FREEwoods
Environmentally aware landowners are being offered a tree-mendous opportunity to plant new native woodland, completely free of charge with the Woodland Trust Scotland.
The FREEwoods offer from the Trust, part of the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, takes its woodland creation programme in a new direction by seeking new partners and locations for tree planting.
The FREEwoods offer is being piloted across Edinburgh and the Lothians with the Woodland Trust looking to work with landowners across the region as part of the Edinburgh and Lothians Forest Habitat Network Partnership. An ideal new woodland would be near ancient woodland or one which welcomes public access, preferably both.
The Trust will arrange for one of its agents to meet you, advise you and agree the design of the new woodland. They will apply, on your behalf, for a Rural Development Contract (RDC).They will then employ a contractor to plant the trees and maintain them for five years. The minimum planting area per applicant is one hectare (2.5acres)
FREEwoods Scotland manager Tim Hall explained “As a starting point all you need is the land and a desire to establish some new native woodland. The project is design to have minimal paperwork and bureaucracy. Our pilot programme has limited funds and we will be choosing the best project sites from the applications we receive.”
He added “ We are passionate about the need to increase native woodland cover, not only to help wildlife prosper but also to increase the quality of everyone’s lives. Scotland is one of the least wooded countries in Europe and only 4% of Scotland is native woodland. We hope that through this scheme we can encourage more people to plant native woodland.”
The closing date for applications is 28 February 2009. It is anticipated that planting would commence autumn/winter 2009.
For more information and an application pack contact Arlene Riley on 01738635829 or email scotland@woodlandtrust.org.uk
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
Jacqui Morris on 01355 578777 or mobile 07979 706675 alternatively call The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail
media@woodlandtrust.org.ukThe Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.
In 1984, the Trust acquired its first wood in Scotland. In the last 25 years the Trust has increased its holdings in Scotland it now owns 80 sites across Scotland covering 8,500 hectares. Further news can be accessed via this website.