Alan Draper

Residents can claim a free tree to plant in their garden

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Residents can claim a free tree to plant in their garden
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  • Wakefield Council is giving away 4,000 trees to residents
  • The trees will help in the district’s fight against climate change
  • The Council has planted nearly 100,000 trees since 2020

Wakefield Council is showing its commitment to greening the district by giving away 4,000 trees to residents in a new scheme launching during National Tree Week.

Residents will be able to collect one tree per household, greening their garden for free while increasing biodiversity across the district.

As the trees grow, they’ll provide habitats for wildlife and help Wakefield district’s fight against climate change.

Cllr Jack Hemingway, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “We’re planting trees and creating new woods on our land, and we know from the hundreds of volunteers who have helped us that residents are right behind us and want to do their bit.

“Everyone can do something in their garden to make a difference, help wildlife and fight climate change.

“Planting a tree is one thing and our free tree giveaway will help people do that.”

Roger Parkinson, a volunteer speaker with the Woodland Trust who is helping the Council with the tree giveaway, said: “There are eight different types of native trees to choose from, so there should be something suitable for most gardens or hedgerows.

“We’ve chosen trees that benefit wildlife, with blossom for pollinators like bees and butterflies, and autumn berries which provide food for wildlife including birds like bullfinch, waxwing, thrush and blackbird.”

Wakefield Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and published its Climate Change Action Plan in 2020.

It has since planted nearly 100,000 trees. Up to 50,000 more will be planted this winter.

The launch of the tree giveaway will coincide with National Tree Week, 25 November to 3 December, the UK’s largest tree celebration. Conservationists, volunteer groups and tree-lovers will plant thousands of trees to mark the start of the tree planting season.

The free trees can be collected from Thornes Park Nursery. To claim your tree, visit https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/freetrees and complete a short questionnaire. You will then be emailed information to arrange collection. You must live in the Wakefield district and only one tree is allowed per household.

 

 

A1 Wentbridge Viaduct – update – 28/9/23

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At the parish council’s request, representatives from National Highways attended the parish council meeting on 28/9/23 and provided the following update regarding the schedule of work on the A1 Wentbridge Viaduct.

  • The southbound side is currently closed, hence the contraflow onto the northbound side.
  • The work on the southbound side is due for completion in December.
  • When the southbound work is completed in December, the northbound side will be closed for its repair work and the contraflow will be moved accordingly onto the southbound side.
  • The northbound work will be completed in March.
  • When the northbound work is completed in March, one lane on each side will be open so that work on the central reservation can be done.
  • The central reservation work will be completed by the end of June.
  • The viaduct will fully re-open in July (2024).
  • The repairs on the viaduct will last for 50 years.

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