Every household in Wales will be given a free tree to plant to help tackle climate change

The Welsh government has announced that each household in the country will receive a free tree to plant to support the Welsh government’s commitment to tackle climate change.

The news was announced yesterday by the country's deputy minister for climate change Lee Waters, and will see trees available for collection from March 2022 from one of five soon-to-be established regional community hubs.

The Welsh government – which has partnered with the Woodland Trust to deliver the campaign – aim to set up an additional 20 hubs across the country by October 2022.

The news comes roughly six months after the Welsh government carried out a Trees and Timber Deep Dive, which saw a nominated Trees and Timber task force make a series of recommendations to take forward. These included a recommendation to 'offer new support to allow people across Wales to plant trees in their gardens and local areas'.

Waters said:

"Trees are amazing – they save lives by keeping our air clean, they improve people's physical and mental health, they are essential for tackling our nature emergency, improving biodiversity and, of course, in tackling climate change.

"The deep dive made it clear to me that everyone will have a part to play if we are to be successful in tackling climate change and realising our ambitions to create a National Forest for Wales."

Continuing he said:

"I am therefore pleased to announce we have partnered with the Woodland Trust to deliver a campaign that will provide every household in Wales an opportunity to plant a free tree in Wales.

"This will enable people in Wales to further understand and experience the many benefits that trees can provide, not only to the environment but also to people’s health and wellbeing."

Those households that aren't able to plant a tree for themselves will be able to select a ‘plant a tree for me’ option, where a free tree is planted on their behalf at locations across Wales via the community hubs and volunteers.