National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration. Each year, the country’s conservation sector, volunteer groups and tree-lovers come together to plant thousands of trees to mark the start of the annual tree planting season.

National Tree Week 2023 takes place from 25 November to 3 December, and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. As well as encouraging local people and community groups to plant trees, our local campaign will be focussing on some of the initiatives our Council and partners are undertaking to increase biodiversity on publicly owned and managed land and to invest in our green infrastructure.  

Trees Call to Action Partnership

In July 2022, the Heart of England Forest, in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick, and Wychavon District Councils, together launched the Trees Call to Action Project (TCAP), as a joint response to the climate and biodiversity emergencies that our respective Councils have declared.

A lack of trees and woodland impacts negatively on biodiversity, people’s health, and our changing climate. However, land managers do not always have the knowledge and skills to plant and care for trees; or they may prioritise alternative land uses. Consequently, people have less access to trees and woodlands with fewer opportunities to engage and can feel disconnected from nature. 

TCAP is working collaboratively with landowners and local communities to identify and support opportunities to increase tree cover across the landscape. The TCAP officer, can provide custom consultation and advice in planning and design. Support with species selection and with access to funding.

This project is funded by the Trees Call to Action Fund. The fund was developed by Defra in partnership with the Forestry Commission and is being delivered by the Heritage Fund.

For more information about TCAP and the support they can provide to landowners, farmers, schools and community groups visit The Heart of England Forest website or email TCAP@heartofenglandforest.org.

Trees for Farmers

Warwick District Council supporting local farmers in the district to plant trees on their land again this planting season.

Tree packs have been offered free of charge to farmers located within the boundary of the three local authority areas and made available through the Warwickshire Rural Hub (a partnership funded by Warwick District Council, Stratford District Council, and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council). The Free Trees for Farmers scheme is also being supported by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, as well as the Trees Call to Action Project.

Last year 12 local farms took advantage of the scheme in Warwick District enabling the planting of more than 6000 trees.

This year farmers have again been able to apply for a single tree pack up to hundreds of trees and pick from a range of packs to find the perfect species mix for their land, which included hedgerow packs, fruit tree packs, and woodland packs.

Over 6000 trees have been ordered which will be distributed to local farms for planting in mid-January 2024.

Funding for Tree Planting

Successful joint Warwickshire-wide funding bids will allow the Council to implement a number of tree planting and maintenance initiatives across the district during the next two planting seasons.

More than £100k of funding will be allocated from the Local Authority Treescape Fund, Urban Tree Challenge Fund and Coronation Living Heritage Fund to help support planting and maintenance of new trees on district-council owned housing sites and green spaces.

Community planting

The Trees Call to Action Project is supporting two community tree planting events in the district in December.

Over 400 trees will be planted at the Parish Council owned open spaces in Rowington and Hampton Magna.

Tree planting will be taking place Rowington Playing Field on Sunday 3 December, and at Montgomery Avenue Park in Hampton Magna on Saturday 9 December. 420 trees will be planted at each park, mostly to form new hedges.

The trees have been donated by the Woodland Trust, with support from the Trees Call to Action Project Officer for Warwick District. Planting will be undertaken by volunteers from the local community, supported by staff from the Heart of England Forest.

Dunsmore Living Landscape scheme update

In 2022 large numbers of trees planted at Newbold Comyn as part of the Dunsmore Living Landscape project were affected by the exceptionally hot, dry summer.

In response to this Warwick District Council has been undertaking work to support the long-term establishment of tree planting on this site.

Hundreds of acorns were planted by volunteers from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust in November 2022 from which saplings have been growing. 

In addition to this Warwick District Council officers have been reviewing the tree species that are establishing from the original planting scheme for future planting.

Following this review the proposal is to replant a further 300 trees on the site this planting season from a selection of species that are proving to be resilient and successful at growing on the site. The tree planting will take place later in the tree planting season.