Solihull residents and local groups are invited to apply for trees through the Arden Free Tree Scheme which promotes the planting of traditional native trees in the borough.
Run by Solihull Council in partnership with Birmingham Airport, the Arden Free Tree Scheme is open to individuals or groups who would like to create hedgerows or small woodlands on their own land within Solihull. The deadline for applications is the end of August and successful applicants will receive their free trees in time for the planting season (November 2022 – March 2023).
The aim of the scheme is to protect and enhance the rural character of Solihull, restoring features typical of the wider local landscape while also reducing carbon and in the atmosphere.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Housing, Cllr Andy Mackiewicz, said: “The Arden Free Tree Scheme offers residents and organisations the chance to plant trees for free while helping to maintain the distinctive character of the Arden landscape. It also contributes to our target of planting 250,000 trees in ten years which will help us to achieve Net Carbon Zero and tackle climate change.”
Landowners in the borough who wish to plant new hedgerows and trees can apply by sending in a location map, sketched plan and list of species to landscape@solihull.gov.uk A Solihull Council ecologist will then visit the site to discuss the plan in person. The scheme can cater for small scale planting right the way up to 1,000 trees.
For further details and to discuss the scheme please email landscape@solihull.gov.uk or visit https://www.solihull.gov.uk/your-future-solihull/arden-free-tree-scheme
Residents, local businesses and organisations who don’t fulfil the criteria for the Arden Free Tree Scheme may also apply for trees by contacting the Planting our Future team who will be taking requests from January to April 2023 for the 2023/24 planting season. For further details visit https://www.lovesolihull.org/plantingourfuture or contact the team at plantingourfuture@solihull.gov.uk