Tree and hedgerow giveaway to improve biodiversity

English oak trees can live more than 1,000 years and grow to 100ft (30m)

Five thousand trees and planting packs to create about 16,000ft (5,000m) of hedgerow are being given away in Lincolnshire.

It is part of a project to increase the amount of tree cover in the county which is below the national average, said Lincolnshire County Council.

The Woodland trust and council have put together the packs and farmers, community groups and organisations are being encouraged to claim them.

Woodland creation project officer Wally Grice said the plants were "free to anyone who's in Lincolnshire and who has the land to put them to good use".

It is the second year that the council has given away plants, in partnership with the Woodland Trust, to mark Tree Week which this year runs from 22-30 November.

One hundred tree packs and one hundred hedgerow packs are available.

Each tree pack contains 50 trees and the hedgerow packs will have enough plants for 160ft (50m) of hedging, said Mr Grice.

"Planting in both sets of packs will be around 18 inches tall," he said.

Oak and wild cherry trees are among the varieties included in the tree pack and the hedgerow plants include hazel and hawthorn.

The council has a tree planting project aimed at increasing the number of trees, tackling climate change and benefitting wildlife.

"Lincolnshire has very low tree cover, one of the lowest in the country at 4%, when the average for the UK is 13%," said Mr Grice.

"We're trying to raise the tree cover and put all the benefits that trees give into Lincolnshire."

He said anyone including farmers, individuals and community groups would be able to come forward for a pack.

Distribution will take place on 27 November at Bardney Dairies.

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