250,000 trees planted in Leicestershire as part of a project to plant a tree for every resident

A free tree scheme last year gave away a record 34,000 trees

250,000 trees have now been planted across Leicestershire as part of a project to plant a tree for every resident in the county.

The project is an initiative by Leicestershire County Council and their aim is to plant 700,000 trees.

Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for the environment and the green agenda said: "This is a great moment for the county as we mark this milestone – a quarter of a million trees planted around Leicestershire.

"The benefits of trees and woodlands are huge, ecologically, environmentally and socially. The target of 700,000 trees is still a long way off, but I’m delighted that we’ve reached this significant point in our planting programme, and would like to thank everyone who has helped us on the way to our bold target."

As part of the programme, a free tree scheme last year gave away a record 34,000 trees to farmers, landowners, community groups, parish councils and schools.

The free tree and hedgerow packs, supplied in partnership with the Woodland Trust, are designed to help renew and restore existing woodland and vegetation, as well as replacing trees which have been affected by diseases such as ash dieback.

You can use this interactive map to see where all the new trees have been planted as well as recording your own trees.

interactive tree map(Link is external and opens in new window).