Thousands of free tree saplings are being given away starting from this month as residents are encouraged to plant trees, increase nature in their communities and contribute to a carbon neutral Cornwall.
The Forest for Cornwall team are behind the initiative which will start during National Tree Week from November 23 to December 1 and continue throughout the planting season.
All the saplings have been supplied free of charge by construction company Morgan Sindall through Cornwall Council’s Local Investment in Nature Cornwall scheme.
The Forest for Cornwall programme has surpassed the milestone of a million trees planted earlier this year, making up more than 600 hectares.
This winter there are a further 400 hectares planned to include field corners, orchards and more than 20 kilometres of hedgerows.
As part of National Tree Week the Forest for Cornwall team are continuing with their Back Garden Forest tree giveaways at various locations.
There are a choice of native species to choose from including spindle, rowan, whitebeam, hazel, crab-apple, and dogwood.
Each sapling will come with a leaflet with information on the tree species and how to care for it.
The locations and times are:
-
Newquay: Saturday 23 November, 10.30am -12.30pm, Newquay Library, Marcus Hill, TR7 1BD
-
Camborne: Saturday 30 November, 10.30-12.30, Kehelland Trust Shop, Commercial Square, Trelowarren Street, TR14 8AT
-
Padstow: Saturday 11 January 2025, 10.30am-12.30pm, Padstow Church Rooms, Church Street, PL28 8B
-
Bude: Saturday 18 January 2025, 10.30am-12.30pm, Bude Library, The Wharf, EX23 8LG
-
Helston: Saturday 1 February 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm, The Old Cattle Market, Porthleven Road, TR13 0SR
-
Redruth: Saturday 15 February 2025, 10.30am-12.30pm, Market Way and Redruth Library, TR15 2AU
-
Liskeard: Saturday 22 February 2025, 10.30am-12.30pm, The Workshed, Fairpark Road, PL14 4BA
Some libraries are also taking part taking part in the tree giveaway too with saplings supplied by community equipment services company Medequip UK.
The libraries taking part are:
-
Camelford Library (Saturday, November 30, 6-8pm)
-
St. Austell (Tuesday, November 26, 2-4pm)
-
Wadebridge (Wednesday, November 27, 2-4pm)
-
St. Ives (Saturday, November 30, 10am-12pm)
-
Falmouth (Tuesday, November 26, 10am-12pm)
Libraries are being offered the opportunity to plant a ‘knowledge tree’ in their garden and some will have tree themed displays and interactive materials suitable for all ages.
Other National Tree Week events include:
-
A free talk by Forest for Cornwall project officer Joe Harris aimed at anyone who would like to learn about trees, planting and maintenance. It takes place at St Ives Community Orchard on Tuesday 26 November, 1pm -3pm. You can also find out more about the wide range of support the Forest for Cornwall team offer to help plant trees in a variety of settings, from your local community to farms and landholdings. Go to for directions and further information.
-
Seventeen Women’s Institutes are planting celebratory trees at their halls or other venues where there is public access.
-
Tree-planting in St Aubyn Crescent and Whitegate Road, Newquay, where the first of this year’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund street trees will be planted following a public consultation.
-
Volunteers from Suez and Cormac are helping out with tree maintenance on 26 November at a new woodland at Notter Bridge near Saltash.
-
Cornhill Farm near Camborne has teamed up with Kehelland Trust and Kehelland Village School whose students will be mucking in to help with the planting during National Tree Week. The farm produces free range eggs and is planting trees to provide a better environment for their chickens.
Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said:
“Tree-planting season has started and National Tree Week is nearly here so we’re celebrating with some fantastic events to get involved in, organised by the Forest for Cornwall team and our partners.
“Trees are a vital tool in our mission to help nature recovery and to mitigate climate change. Our Forest for Cornwall team is working hard to ensure that the right tree is planted in the right place for the right purpose.
“Come and pick up a free tree for your back garden and help restore nature in your community.”
National Tree Week is an annual event organised by the Tree Council highlighting the importance of trees and their multiple benefits including providing shade, shelter, blossom, fruit, habitat and highways for nature, as well as improving our air quality, mental wellbeing and absorbing emissions.
Watch some more videos about the Forest for Cornwall Story posted November 11, 2024