Free trees to be planted across borough

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council teamed up once again with Hinckley and Rugby Building Society and The National Forest Company to offer the free tree scheme with the aim of making the borough a greener place to be and to help fight climate change.

On Saturday, the lucky recipients started collecting the trees and hedging ready for planting from collection points in Hinckley, Groby and Desford.

More than 35,000 tree saplings and hedging were offered as part of the scheme including wild pear, rowan, hornbeam and crab apple trees, as well as five-meter hedging packs.

Cllr Martin Cartwright, Executive Member for Climate Change, said: “We were delighted to be able to once again team up with Hinckley and Rugby Building Society and the National Forest Company to offer this free tree and hedging scheme.

“The benefits of this scheme will last for years to come, helping to provide a more pleasurable greener, cleaner environment. They will increase the biodiversity in our borough as well as reducing the impact of climate change by absorbing carbon. Many children were very excited to collect and plant their trees nurturing them into the future. We look forward to seeing the trees and hedging across the borough as they start to grow and thrive.”

Cllr Lynda Hodgkins, Executive Member for Street Scene Services added: “We are extremely grateful to Hinckley & Rugby Building Society and the National Forest for sponsoring this scheme, which will help to make the borough a greener and more beautiful place to be. Thank you to everyone who got involved, and we hope everyone enjoys caring for their trees and watching them grow.”

Barry Carter, CEO of Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, said: "We’re proud to once again be the lead sponsor of this outstanding initiative, reflecting our ongoing commitment to tackling climate change and enhancing our local environment. Supporting good causes in our community is engrained in the Society, whether through financial contributions or volunteering our time. We’re delighted to play a role in this important project."

Gill Forrester, Community and Wellbeing Manager, The National Forest Company said: “We are delighted to once again support Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council with its annual free tree scheme. Trees really are transformational in the landscape, for biodiversity and for our wellbeing. Our thanks go to all those people who will be planting their new trees and helping to grow a greener, healthier and more sustainable future for everyone to enjoy."

The trees are small cell-grown plants, sourced from the UK.