Residents across Stafford Borough can pick up a tree for free in a county-wide initiative to help the environment.

Five hundred trees are up for grabs next Friday (31 October) on a first come, first served basis from the town’s award-winning Victoria Park.

The event is organised by the Staffordshire Sustainability Board - which is a collaboration of the councils across the county - and will take place from 10am to 2pm at the park’s Albert’s Café on Friday. 

The variety of native species available, including hawthorn, rowan, silver birch, crab apple and whitebeam, have been chosen for their suitability to local conditions and their benefits to wildlife and biodiversity. Residents will also be given an instruction leaflet on how to plant and maintain the trees.

The initiative is part of wider efforts by the ‘Board’ to support environmental impacts and discussion in Staffordshire. 

Councillor Tony Pearce, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, said: “It is always nice to be able to give something for free - and even better when the scheme provides the opportunity for us all to do our own little bit for the environment.

“I hope people will take advantage of this offer and help us raise awareness of the climate and biodiversity initiatives that are taking place within our own - and the wider - area.”

He added: “Trees that are planted and maintained correctly will remove carbon from the atmosphere, improve our air quality, as well as provide shade, and support biodiversity.”

Victoria Park attracts tens of thousands of local people and visitors every year and has held a ‘Green Flag’ - the benchmark for the best managed parks and green spaces in the UK - for nearly 20 years.

More information www.staffordshire.gov.uk/environment/Climate-change/Staffordshire-Sustainability-Board.aspx 

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Press Release 6245