The Big Farm Tree Planting offers 200 packs of 10 trees, together with necessary stakes and guards, completely free of charge to NFU members.
The cell-grown trees will be made available for collection from four locations around the region ready for planting in the spring. All farmers need to do now is register to take part, using the form below.
Pick your pack to suit your farm
The cell-grown trees will be available in two different packs – for upland and lowland locations.
The Upland pack will include:
- 2 x sessile oak
- 2 x goat willow
- 2 x rowan
- 2 x crab apple
- 2 x downy birch
The Lowland pack will include:
- 2 x pedunculate oak
- 2 x hazel
- 2 x field maple
- 2 x crab apple
- 2 x wild cherry
Adam Briggs, NFU regional environment adviser, said: “The value of farmland trees is often overlooked but it is estimated that there are between 20 and 50 million hedgerow and field trees in England, covering very roughly 2.5% of the land area.
“The majority of mature trees in the countryside, not including woods and gardens, have their origins in hedgerows and an impressive 130 priority wildlife species are associated with, or rely on hedgerows.
“Trees are also increasingly valued for their ability to store carbon and, in some circumstances, ‘slow the flow’ of water from the hills to lowland areas during wet weather events, so this joint initiative provides our members with a great opportunity to replace ageing trees, add to existing hedgerows or to put non-productive areas of land to an alternative use.”
All farmers need to do now is register using the form below to be able to collect their trees in February 2022 from four locations around the region - NFU Regional Office in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, Garstang in Lancashire, Holmes Chapel in Cheshire and Skipton in North Yorkshire.
Sian Atkinson is the Woodland Trust’s senior outreach manager. She added:
"Planting the right trees in the right place on your farm, as well as attracting and supporting wildlife, can provide shade and shelter for livestock and food for pollinators.
“Increasing tree cover is now recognised as key to tackling the nature and climate crises in the UK, and these ten-tree packs give NFU members the opportunity to play a part.”
All the trees are sourced and grown in the UK or Ireland to help in the fight against pests and disease and to make the landscape more resilient to these threats.
Members of the Woodland Trust team will be on hand when the trees are collected and there will be an opportunity to sign up for further expert advice on tree planting and management.