More than 58,000 free tree saplings have been handed out to communities across Westmorland and Furness through the Council’s One Tree per Resident (OTpR) project.
Five collection events were held across January and February in Kendal, Penrith, Appleby, Windermere and Barrow, welcoming schools, landowners, community groups, town and parish councils, and local residents.
This latest phase of OTpR delivered free tree and hedge packs through the Council’s ‘Free Trees for Residents’ scheme, designed to encourage wide-reaching community participation and create a lasting legacy by boosting tree and hedgerow cover across the area.
The scheme was created to be accessible to everyone, with renters planting trees suitable for pots, schools using the opportunity for outdoor learning, and landowners creating new habitat corridors. Many of the saplings will support inspiring local projects from wildlife havens and hedgehog sanctuaries to the restoration of pockets of ancient woodland – each tree contributing meaningfully to nature recovery.
Saplings were supplied by Alba Tree Nursery in East Lothian, with Council staff and volunteers from partner organisations including Fibrus, RAISE, and local community groups supporting the successful delivery of the events.
Councillor Giles Archibald, Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said:
"As an ecologically aware council, we recognise the urgent need to take action on climate change and biodiversity loss. The One Tree per Resident project is a major part of our commitment to a greener future, empowering our communities to make a real difference.
“The delivery of this latest scheme was a key part of our efforts to support communities in increasing tree and hedgerow coverage, which plays a vital role in mitigating climate change impacts. Trees not only sequester carbon and contribute to our net zero goals, but they also enhance biodiversity, improve air and water quality, and create healthier spaces for people and wildlife.”
OTpR is an ambitious five‑year project that aims to ensure the planting of a quarter of a million trees across Westmorland and Furness, supporting communities to plant one tree, or one metre of hedgerow equivalent, for every resident.
Councillor Archibald, continued:
“Thanks to the enthusiasm and support of our local community in Westmorland and Furness, this takes our total so far to over 100,000 trees and hedgerows planted, bringing us closer to our ambitious target of 250,000.
“I would like to thank everyone who took part in this scheme, from Council staff and our fantastic partners to the more than 2,000 applicants who applied. It has been incredibly inspiring to see thousands of people come together to collect and plant their saplings, showing real strength of community and a shared love of nature.
“We’ve also received wonderful feedback from participants, who told us how much they valued being part of something meaningful for the future. I am so pleased this scheme attracted so much interest and support, and that we’ve been able to help so many people and groups take part in something that benefits us all.”
