Community Tree Scheme closed as 10,000 snapped up

Unprecedented demand has seen 10,000 trees on offer to residents of Shropshire snapped up in just 24 hours.

Shropshire Council’s Community Tree Scheme only opened yesterday, as the authority bids to plant a tree for every resident of the county.

The scheme will supply transplant trees and hedgerow stock for planting during the coming autumn/winter season.

The scheme only opened on Wednesday, urging people to sign up and offer to plant trees on their land in a bid to help the council reach carbon neutral status by 2030.

But all 10,000 up for grabs have been allocated by 5pm on Thursday – a huge achievement.

Councillor Dean Carroll, Cabinet Member for adult social care, public health and climate change, said:

“We have been quite literally blown away by the response to our Community Tree Scheme which was only open for little over 24 hours.

“From the moment the scheme opened we were swamped with applications from people wanting to help out and I am delighted to say the entire allocation has been snapped up already.”

Focus this year is on planting groups of native trees and shrubs as copses and small areas of woodland, to maximise the benefits for landscape and wildlife around the county.

A new feature of the scheme this year, is that successful applicants must be prepared to show the location and planting details of their trees on an interactive map of Shropshire. This will provide a permanent and growing record of where trees have been planted around the county.

The first tree will be planted in memory of former Shropshire Council car park attendant Percy Mullaly – you can read more here.