What's happening?
This year the RHS is encouraging all RHS Affiliated Societies to plant trees to celebrate Dig Together Day 2012. To take part in the UK-wide celebration, groups should organise a community tree-planting event in November 2012. Affiliated Societies are encouraged to partner with other local groups, schools or residents, to plant their trees or hedges in public areas that will enrich the local environment.
When
The media will cover Dig Together Day on 24 and 25 November, and we hope as many groups as possible will be able to plant their trees during this weekend; however you are free to plant your trees at any time in November.
Source your trees
Use one of the two options below to source your trees, either free or at a substantial discount.
- If you are organising a community event on public land…..
To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Woodland Trust is providing 1,250 free community tree packs to groups to plant in November 2012. Packs contain either 60, 105 or 420 native saplings and can be planted as hedging, as copses or individually.
To qualify for a free tree pack your application must meet the Woodland Trust’s criteria:
- Your trees must be planted on public land or in a site that everyone in the area can enjoy and benefit from.
- You must be working with your local community to plant trees, involving as wide a range of individuals/other groups as possible.
- You must have consulted your local community prior to the planting and have support for your plans.
- You must have the landowner’s permission to plant trees.
- You must be able to identify a postcode or grid reference for the planting site.
Detailed applications should be sent by 1 June 2012 at the very latest. Please enter ‘RHS2012’ where the form asks how you heard about the scheme.
Successful groups will be contacted in the week commencing 23 September 2012, and trees will be distributed in the week commencing 5 November 2012.
Please note that submitting an application to the Woodland Trust does not guarantee your group a tree pack. Find out more at the Woodland Trust site.
- If your tree planting event will not take place on public land...
Your group can still enjoy a 50% discount on a wildlife-friendly native hedging pack; 105 trees for £64.95 instead of £129.95, including free delivery. The selection of 105 saplings will form an informal hedge, about 20 metres (66ft) long, with year-round appeal for wildlife. Order by 10 October 2012.
To order your trees, visit www.buy-trees-online.co.uk/rhs and enter the code ‘RHS01’ at the checkout to receive your exclusive discount.
The offer will be available until 10 October 2012. Tree packs will be dispatched on 23 October 2012 and are expected to arrive within seven to 14 working days.
Support and publicity
Please check back soon for advice about tree planting and generating publicity for your event. We will also create template materials and press releases for groups to use to promote their tree-planting events.
Advertise your event with us
Logging your event here will enable the RHS to help promote your activity to the media. Please check back soon for information and details on advertising your event.
Who to contact with questions?
Please contact the Community Horticulture team at the RHS should you have any queries, either by phone: 020 7821 3069 or email: communities@rhs.org.uk