Hundreds of trees planted across the borough, thanks to the Woodland Trust

Tress planted off Wildhouse lane

Six schools and two community groups across the borough have received a combined total of 690 free trees, thanks to the Woodland Trust.

Kentmere Academy received 30 copse plants, Spotland Primary School received 105 each of wildlife and working wood plus 30 hedge trees, Moorhouse Primary School received 60 hedge plants, Alice Ingham RC Primary received 30 each of hedge and copse plants, Oulder Hill Community High School received 60 hedges, and Matthew Moss High School received 105 wetland plants.

Blue Pits Housing Action received 30 hedge plants to replant on some recently cleared land to give it back its colour, character and wildlife, and also encourage those who live there to look after the area and plant further plants.

The Friends of Balderstone Park also received 105 trees as part of a community project bringing people from different social backgrounds together.

More than 47,000 free trees have been distributed across the whole of the North West after 282 schools and 73 community groups from the region successfully applied for the packs from the conservation charity.

In addition, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has supported the Woodland Trust to provide packs for state funded primary schools in England.

Director of Woodland Creation John Tucker said: “We are thrilled that so many people have applied for our free packs and delighted that our partners continue to support our commitment to plant 64 million trees over the next decade.

“Trees bring so many benefits to our landscape, whether it’s a rural or urban setting. They tackle air pollution, improve water quality, provide shelter for crops and livestock, shade for rivers, valuable habitat for a wealth of wildlife and can improve our mental wellbeing.

“Our neighbourhoods feel better places to live and work in when they're green, yet woodland cover in England stands at just 10%. The UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe.

“We must increase the number and variety of native trees we are planting if we are to have any hope of heading off the risk of deforestation, so it’s wonderful that so many people want to help us do this and we wish them well with their planting events over the coming weeks.”

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said: “This scheme is a wonderful way to not only encourage more trees to be planted, but to inspire children to connect with the environment around them.

“By working with the Woodland Trust to give free trees to schools, children across the country will be able to learn about nature and help make their schools and neighbourhoods better places to live and play.”

Packs come in three sizes. Small packs contain 30 saplings to plant a small copse or short hedgerow; medium contain 105 trees ideal for planting in small groups or a hedge of around 30 metres; and large which contain 420 plants, enough to cover an acre of land or create a hedge of around 85 metres.

Every pack is different, but each one contains saplings from seeds which were collected and grown in the UK. People can choose from species that will flourish in wetlands, attract wildlife, provide year-round colour or grow a wild harvest.

The next time the Woodland Trust sends out its free tree packs will be November 2017. The deadline for applications is Friday 8 September.

The packs are funded by Sainsbury’s, Ikea Family, players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and Yorkshire Tea.