Free trees available for planting projects in Chichester district

Free trees available for planting projects in Chichester district
Photo by Nadine Eggenberger on Unsplash

Whether you want to plant trees on your front lawn or create a mini-orchard for your community space, Chichester District Council is providing free trees and materials to create greener spaces across the district.

Residents, community groups, organisations, farmers and parish councils can apply for free trees and support materials to help deliver new tree planting projects this winter, provided they own the land or have landowner permission.

Applicants must plant their trees outside of existing woodlands and demonstrate that the project will have a public or community benefit — this could include planting in publicly accessible or viewable locations or involving local communities in the planting process.

Cllr Brown and the council's tree project officer

"We're thrilled to offer this scheme to help communities plant more trees and create greener spaces for everyone to enjoy," says Cllr Jonathan Brown, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Environment at Chichester District Council.

"Tree planting not only enhances our landscapes — it also supports wildlife and improves wellbeing. Whether you're looking to plant a community orchard, a hedgerow, individual trees, small copses, or even a Miyawaki mini urban forest, we'd love to hear from you."

The scheme is open until November 17 2025, and application forms can be requested by emailing: treescheme@chichester.gov.uk. Each proposed planting site will be assessed by the council's Tree Project Officer. Trees will be allocated to suitable projects on a first-come, first-served basis, and successful applicants must complete their planting projects by February 16 2026.

The council will cover the cost of trees, as well as essential items to support their growth, such as tree guards and mulch. In some cases, the scheme may also be able cover the cost for fencing to protect the planting area.

This project has been made possible with the support of a grant from The Tree Council's and Defra's Trees Outside Woodland Fund.

As part of the council's Tree Chichester District scheme, the council has planted 65,000 trees across the district at over 210 sites over the past four years, creating ten mini urban forests and 19 community orchards. More information about the scheme can be found on the tree scheme webpage

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