THOUSANDS of trees are set to be planted this winter after groups made applications to a council' scheme.

Residents, community groups, schools, parish councils, charities, businesses, landowners, and tenant farmers applied for a total of more than 8,000 free trees from Chichester District Council as part of a scheme to increase tree planting across the district.

Thousands of free trees were made available, and people applied for bundles of 10 or 20 trees that were designed to suit the location and soil type of the area in which they planned to plant them. The council received more than 100 applications for the trees.

Fishbourne Roman Palace and Sussex Archaeological Society will also be receiving trees through the scheme.

A spokesman for the society said: "The trees will add visual appeal for our visitors, as well as supporting and conserving our wildlife and engaging with our charity's views on climate change.

"We are keen to encourage the natural habitat around the site as much as possible."

This is part of the council's Tree Chichester District scheme, which was launched in January and funded by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The council is one of five local authorities in England taking part in the £2.5m tree planting pilot, testing ways to increase tree cover in rural and urban areas.

Cllr Penny Plant said: "We were overwhelmed by the response to the scheme, having received applications for free trees from all over the district.

"The addition of these new trees will make such a difference to our local environment, and we are looking forward to supporting the successful groups and individuals with their tree planting projects in the upcoming planting season.

"This is just one of the ways in which we are working to protect and enhance our local environment. Last year, we produced a Climate Emergency Action Plan, which sets out a carbon reduction target of 10 per cent year-on-year until 2025 for the Chichester District.

"The plan also outlines the steps that the council is taking to cut emissions within the work that it does, and to improve the energy efficiency of council buildings and to reduce emissions from its vehicles."

People can find more information about the council's Tree Chichester District scheme and how they can access funding for trees, at Chichester District tree scheme, or by emailing the Tree Project Officer at Treescheme@chichester.gov.uk.

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