As part of our commitment to addressing climate change, supporting biodiversity, and enhancing the quality of life for our residents, Warwick District Council is delivering a range of tree planting initiatives across the district.
Why trees matter
Trees play a vital role in our environment by:
- Improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions
- Providing shade and cooling during hot weather
- Supporting local wildlife and biodiversity
- Reducing surface water runoff and preventing soil erosion
- Creating more attractive, healthier public spaces
What we're doing
In addition to planting trees on council-owned land, we’re working in partnership with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust on support tree planting on other suitable sites through the Free Trees for Farmers scheme and Community Tree and Hedge Planting scheme as follows.
Free Trees for Farmers
The Free Trees for Farmers scheme helps farmers in Warwick District plant trees and hedgerows that support wildlife, reduce flood risk, improve soil health, provide shade for livestock and offer many other environmental benefits.
Warwick District Council is proud to be funding the scheme for the third consecutive year.
Farmers can apply for anything from a single tree pack to hundreds of trees. A variety of tree packs are available to allow farmers to find the perfect species mix for their land, including:
- Hedgerow packs
- Fruit tree packs
- Woodland packs
Each pack includes the necessary stakes and tree guards.
The trees will be available for collection on a designated day in December 2025 or January 2026, depending on nursery lead-in times. The exact date and collection location will be confirmed closer to the time. Please note:
- Trees must be collected on the specified date - we’re unable to store them.
- Trees must be planted as soon as possible after collection and within the tree planting season (typically late November to early March) to ensure they establish successfully.
Application deadline – Sunday 13 July 2025 at 11pm
Free Trees for Farmers application
Community Tree and Hedge Planting
The Community Tree and Hedge Planting scheme supports schools, community groups and landowners in planting trees and hedgerows that bring nature closer to local neighbourhoods.
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust will work closely with applicants to plan appropriate planting schemes and provide practical support during planting from Autumn 2025.
Eligible sites in Warwick District include:
- School and nursery grounds
- Churchyards and cemeteries
- Playing fields and recreation grounds
- Parks and green spaces (including shared green spaces with public access)
- Village greens and verges
- Village halls and community centre grounds
- Allotments
- Nursing homes (with public access to a business within the grounds)
- Local community hubs or businesses
- Social housing green spaces
To express interest or find out more, please contact Olivia.williams@wkwt.org.uk.
Trees for our Future
Trees for our Future is Warwick District Council’s long-term tree planting programme, launched in 2020 with the aim of planting 160,000 trees across the district.
The programme supports our commitment to tackling climate change, boosting biodiversity and improving community health and wellbeing.
The programme is currently under review as part of the wider Biodiversity Action Programme.
Tree planting with the Woodland Trust
If you’re looking to plant lots of trees, the Woodland Trust have the trees, grants and funding schemes to help.
Trees Call to Action Partnership
In July 2022, the Heart of England Forest, in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick, and Wychavon District Councils, together launched the Trees Call to Action Project (TCAP), as a joint response to the climate and biodiversity emergencies that our respective Councils have declared.
The partnership worked collaboratively with landowners and local communities to find ways to increase tree cover across the landscape, supporting with all aspects of tree planting and maintenance, from identifying suitable locations, appropriate funding, tree stocks, and long-term care.
The project was possible thanks to a grant from the Trees Call to Action Fund developed by Defra in partnership with the Forestry Commission and delivered by the Heritage Fund.
This three-year project has now ended after successfully planting over a quarter of a million trees!