Waltham Forest Council’s annual free Great Tree Giveaway gets underway just in time for Valentine's Day, so why not show you love your garden by giving it the gift of a tree? There are around 5,000 trees and 17 species up for grabs including beech, aspen, maple, cherry, and many more.
The Great Tree Giveaway takes place from 12 to 16 February, it's one tree per household and operates on a first-come-first-served basis. Don't miss out! Pop along to Highams Park, Ridgeway, Lloyds, or Langthorne Parks. The trees being given away are smaller-sized species that are designed for residents to plant in their gardens, however, there are a couple of species that can grow larger.
The Great Tree Giveaway is part of the Council’s ambitious its climate action programme. The young deciduous trees – referred to as whips – are set to provide a huge boost to the local environment over the coming years and decades as they grow and start to provide habitats and food sources for all manner of insects, birds, and mammals, create improved and greater canopy cover, and help to absorb harmful emissions from the air we breathe.
Cllr Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality said: “I’m delighted that our annual Great Tree Giveaway is getting underway next month, and with Valentine's Day coming up, you can show your love for the local environment by planting a tree in your garden.
“You’ll be able to watch your tree grow in the coming years and hopefully thrive, as it takes nasty toxins out of the air, grows improved canopy coverage, and gives all kinds of wonderful wildlife a place to live and thrive.
“We want to work together with local communities across the borough to take on the challenge of the climate crisis and we hope lots of residents will benefit from this excellent free tree offer. Thank you for playing your part.”
We’ll be giving our tree whips away from the following locations across the borough on the following dates and times:
- Humphry's Café at Highams Park (IG8 9RF), daily from Monday 12 to Friday 16 February, from 12pm to 3:30pm
- Ridgeway Park (E4 6RS), Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 February, from 12pm to 3:30pm
- Lloyd Park (E17 4PP), daily from Monday 12 to Friday to 16 February, 12pm to 3:30pm
- Langthorne Park (E11 4Y), daily from Monday 12 to Fri to 16 February from 12pm to 3:30pm.
The full list of tree species available as part of the Giveaway:
| Aspen | Populus tremula | |
| Bird Cherry | Prunus padus | |
| Black Walnut | Juglans nigra | |
| Blackthorn | Prunus spinosa | |
| Common Crab Apple | Malus sylvestris | |
| Douglas Fir | Pseudotsuga menziesii | |
| Field Maple | Acer campestre | |
| Green Beech | Fagus sylvatica | |
| Grey Willow | Salix cinerea | |
| Hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | |
| Hazel | Corylus avellana | |
| Holly | Ilex aquifolium | |
| Hornbeam | Carpinus betulus | |
| Mountain Ash/Rowan | Sorbus aucuparia | |
| Silver Birch | Betula pendula | |
| Wild Cherry | Prunus avium |