There are not many levels of governance at which tree planting is not enthusiastically embraced. Corporations, Whitehall, the statutory agencies and local planning authorities all have targets and pledges surrounding woodland creation. On the really local level, many communities are also interested to play their part, and their enthusiasm can be leveraged and supported by those higher up the scale.

Whether you are from a local community considering tree planting, or whether you work with communities, the attached document should provide a useful set of guiding principles through which to act. Three key things stand out - firstly, that the Woodland Trust have a fund to which you can apply for free trees, and associated guidance. Secondly, that the location needs to be suitable for trees - check it against the nature recovery network maps and any other locally available data to make sure the land you have in mind is not a priority habitat, or protected. And thirdly, that ongoing maintenance and management of the trees is vital to ensure they survive to maturity, Gloucestershire County Council should be able to provide support to this end, through their Community Tree Planting fund. Details of this will be uploaded to this page once we have them.