The Big Tree Plant facts for kids
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The Big Tree Plant was a special project in England that started in 2010. Its main goal was to encourage people to plant one million trees in places where they lived and worked. This project was supported by the government and ran for four years, from 2011 to 2015. It was the first big tree-planting effort like this since the Plant A Tree In '73 campaign.
Contents
Why Plant More Trees?
Protecting Urban Trees
This project aimed to stop the number of trees in cities and towns from going down. A study in 2005, called Trees in Towns II, found that fewer new trees were being planted in cities. This meant there weren't enough young trees, which was a problem that needed to be fixed quickly.
Concerns in London
In London, another report in 2007, Chainsaw Massacre, showed worries about tree planting in some areas. It also said that large broadleaf trees on London streets were in danger. This was due to new buildings, less money for tree care, and people not caring enough. Sometimes, insurance companies worried about trees causing damage, even if it wasn't true.
Choosing the Right Trees
Both reports also pointed out that people were planting smaller, pretty trees instead of native broadleaf trees. Native trees are those that naturally grow in an area, like London plane, lime, and oak trees. The campaign wanted to encourage planting these larger, native types.
How the Project Was Funded
Money for Communities
The Big Tree Plant project set aside £4.2 million to help community groups, local organizations, and other non-profit groups. This money became available starting in April 2011. The grants didn't just cover the cost of planting trees. They could also be used for things like getting local people involved, checking out planting sites, and getting advice from tree experts.
Where the Money Came From
Most of the money, £4 million, came from the Forestry Commission. They found these funds by making their operations more efficient. The remaining £200,000 came from an existing fund called the London Tree and Woodland Community Grant. A special group, called the Big Tree Plant Grants Panel, decided which groups would receive the money. This panel met every spring and summer.
Early Support for Schools
Even before the main funding started, one of the project's partners, Keep Britain Tidy, helped out. They invited schools that were part of the government's Eco-School program to apply for tree planting kits.
Who Helped with the Project?
The Big Tree Plant campaign was led by the DEFRA. Many different groups and organizations worked together to make it a success. These partners included:
- The The Tree Council
- Woodland Trust
- Trees for Cities
- England’s 12 Community Forests
- The National Forest
- BTCV
- Civic Voice
- Groundwork UK
- Keep Britain Tidy
- The Local Government Association
- The Department for Communities and Local Government
- The Forestry Commission
