Big Tree Giveaway 2024

For Schools, Community Groups and Parish Councils. 

Following the success of last year’s Big Tree Giveaway, Blaby District Council are focusing this year on assisting local Schools, Community Groups and Parish Council’s to boost biodiversity on their land and help combat Climate Change. A healthy natural environment is critical to our food systems, the economy and our health and well-being.

The latest State of Nature report shows that 1 in 6 species are now threatened with extinction. Creating a small woodland or orchard is a brilliant way to help address the problem of Climate Change and improve the local flora and fauna.

Using funding from the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund, we are offering the opportunity to create a small woodland area or orchard for your organisation by providing 10-15 trees free of charge. We are able to offer a variety of trees in a selection of sizes suited to the available space you may have. 

The deadline for applications is Friday 24 May 2024 and we intend to provide requested trees in October 2024. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The funding is limited so if you are not chosen this time round but your proposal is sound, we will keep your details on record and contact you if further money becomes available.  

How to apply

Submit a proposal via the following email address Climate.Change@Blaby.gov.uk stating how you intend to deliver and manage the project. You will need to consider the following:

• Which Species to plant 
• Where to plant your trees
• How and when to plant them
• How you will care for and maintain the trees

Tree Planting Guidance

The Woodland Trust have produced guidance that will help your application. Please refer to this guide before submitting your proposal, which you'll find in the external links panel.

Did you know? 

• Hedgerows are home to 80% of the UK's birds
• The UK's Green Spaces remove up to 1.3 billion kilograms of air pollutants each year
• Whilst trees only cover 30% of Earth’s land surface, they are home to 80% of the world's known terrestrial biodiversity
• A mature tree can absorb up to 150kg of CO2 a year 
• Well-placed trees can help cool the air between 2 and 8 degrees in urban communities