24 September 2008, 08/219
Plant a tree for free
Free trees are on offer from West Lancs
District Council in a bid to help make the area even more leafy,
green and beautiful.
The Council is offering residents the chance
to have free trees to plant in their gardens. People can choose
from a wide range of native species: oak, Scots pine, bird cherry,
holly, crab apple, birch, wild pear, mountain ash, hawthorn,
blackthorn and wayfaring tree.
Councillor Martin Forshaw, portfolio holder
for planning, said: “This is an innovative scheme by the Council to
try to help make West Lancs even more green and beautiful by
increasing the number of trees in our district. Over the last
50 years, almost half of the country’s
woodland has disappeared and although some parts of West
Lancs are well covered, overall our district has less than 4% of
its area covered by trees.
“I hope that local people will take the chance
to look in their gardens and see if they have space for more trees
and take up our special offer of having a tree for free.”
The trees will be around two to three years
old, and about one metre high. Each
resident can choose up to 10 free trees, but they must be planted
in the West Lancs District Council area on land in their ownership
or control and they must be visible from the road or public
footpath. An undertaking must be made to look after the trees in
future.
Applications for free trees must be made
before 31 October. After that date, trees will be allocated and
people will be informed how and where to collect them. Each
applicant will also be given
information on how to plant and look after the trees.
If demand exceeds supply, restrictions may be placed on the number
of free trees per person.
How to find out more and apply for
your free trees:
Click: Our trees page where you can apply online
Email: dave.thornber@westlancsdc.gov.uk
for more information
Phone: 01695 585114 or 585168
Pick up: a copy of the Free Tree Scheme
leaflet from the Council Offices at 52 Derby Street, Ormskirk or the CSP in Skelmersdale.
Related information
> Tree and hedge planting grant
> Tree
warden scheme
> Tree preservation orders