Free Trees for the Jubilee

16 January 2012

Trees are Innocent OK! Free Trees is the campaign branch of the Tree Liberation Front, not to be confused with the more militant, breakaway Wee Free Trees (to be found mainly in the Outer Hebrides – it’s the wind that stunts them). But we’re not concerned with them. Rather with the Woodland Trust and their Great Free Trees Giveaway. Luvvly Jublee indeed! For the trees are being given away to schools and community groups to plant to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this year.

Yes, this year the Queer Old Dean (one of the many things which Reverend William Spooner might or might not have said) will have been sitting on her throne for 60 years. Why has no-one told her that they have medications in Boots (other chemists and footwear are available) which can sort this problem out and bring her some ease? I blame the Duke!

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Let’s Have a Question and Answer Session

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Who can get free Jubilee tree packs?

Community groups and schools.

How do we get our free Jubilee tree pack?

You can apply now on the Woodland Trust website (see below). If you are writing to the Woodland Trust, write to Theresa Green – that always causes much merriment in the Woodland Trust office. (Note: no-one called Theresa Green works in the Woodland Trust office. The person who coordinates this scheme is Hazel Nutt.)

How many free trees can we get?

If it’s a community group you can get either 120 or 420 trees, if it’s a school you can get 60 trees. They come of course with all the information you need for you to successfully plant and establish them.

Do we a choice of trees?

You’re getting them free! Don’t be pernickety. But actually you do get a choice. There are four themed packs – colour, woodfuel, wild harvest (stuff to eat!) and wildlife – each containing a selection of suitable tree species. Please note that the wildlife is not provided, but hopefully the trees will attract it. Let’s hope you get some eucalyptus trees which are sure to attract koala bears. Unfortunately bamboo is a grass so you’re not going to tempt some giant pandas into your community woodland.

Do I have to talk to, or hug, my trees?

Talking to, or hugging your tree, will not do any harm to you or the tree. Unless it is a coconut palm tree, in which case hugging it may cause a large seed to fall on your nut, causing indentation or death. Rest easy, though – the palm tree will not be damaged.

This is a great offer from the Woodland Trust. There’s no catches. You apply for free trees and, provided they’ve not run out of free trees, you get your free trees. All the information you need about this offer is on the Woodland Trust website And there also you can read about all the great work the Trust is doing to protect and expand woodland in Britain, and all the rest of the Jubilee project which consists of a lot more than the free trees. The Jubilee tree project aims to plant 6 million trees across the UK.

If you want to apply for your free trees, or wish more information on tree-themed Jubilee commemorations go to The Jubilee Woods Project.

This has been a very popular scheme and there are no packs left for schools or youth groups to plant this spring. But you should book your tree-pack now to ensure that you will get trees for planting in November 2012. Communities can still apply for trees for spring planting (information from the Woodland Trust website at time of writing article).

Apart from these great and generous free tree schemes those who don’t qualify can buy jubilee trees in various sizes and types. See Buy a Tree.

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/jubilee-woods/buy-a-tree/Pages/choose-your-tree.aspx