Kent Free Tree Scheme

[IanJohnstone]

If you own land or live in Kent, you may be able to apply for up to 25 native trees, COMPLETELY FREE. 9 boroughs and districts have joined this year's scheme to support planting in their areas and this is a great opportunity for filling gaps or planting specimen trees. The scheme was launched in Tunbridge Wells Borough for the first time last year and is also available in Sevenoaks, Dartford, Gravesham, Bexley, Maidstone, Tonbridge & Malling and districts of Canterbury and Thanet.

For further details on the scheme, visit our website www.khwp.org.uk or call the KCC hotline on 08458 247 600 for an application form and information booklet.

The scheme closes 31st October.

[mikepepler]

Now when will Sussex do this.... or have they and I just don't know about it?

[IanJohnstone]

At present I believe this scheme is only open residents in Kent, although it is not county wide as indicated above. One of the main reasons may be that it is run by the Countryside Management Partnerships in conjunction with the Borough councils and supported by other key funders such as Kent County Council. As Sussex has a different organisational set up, it may not lend itself to the Scheme. However, you never know...!

[Darren]

Why not just op for natural regeneration? Save on money and labour plus you have better trees.

[tracy]

I agree that it is ideal but does depend on the woodland. We have planted some in order to increase the coppice density. We will do layering as well, but got some free trees and some kids to plant them ;-)

Also, if you want to change your tree type a bit, you might want to bring in new trees. We have areas where the chestnut is dying, with phytothora (spelling?) and so we are thinking of planting hazel or something there.....

[Darren]

We are changing our woodland type from Conifer to broad leaf. Our woods wants to be predominantly a Ash wood with a scattering of hazel, oak, spindle hornbeam etc. I'm happy to let nature take it's course with the little help of deer fence. Your right though it depends on what you want. Have you tried to plant the local chestnuts/hazel nuts in the hope that they grow?

[mikepepler]

We certainly have some self-seeded regrowth from the chestnut and oak, and have seen some from hazel in other parts of the wood.

[IanJohnstone]

I would add that natural regeneration within a wood is preferable than introducing species which are not indigenous to it and the Scheme is open to all, not just woodland owners. So, for example, if you have a garden in the areas covered by the scheme, it can be useful to plant new or gap up existing hedges, plant specimen trees etc.