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Hertfordshire County Council

Background – our strategy

As part of our Tree and Woodland Strategy, we're working with partners to provide trees for residents, businesses and community groups to plant across Hertfordshire.

This is part of our plan to help plant 1.8 million trees by 2030 in support of the Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy goals of improving air quality, supporting wildlife, and adapting Hertfordshire to the impacts of climate change.

 


Selecting your trees – available tree and hedge packs

You can choose from eight different species while stocks last. A limited number of hedgerow packs are also available, which include 36 trees - enough to plant approximately 6 metres of hedgerow.

All of these trees are:

  • Great Britain natives and suitable for Hertfordshire's soil and environmental conditions (this gives them the best chance to grow to maturity)
  • two years old and approximately 60-80cm tall (except for hawthorn, which is one year old and a little smaller, as they grow very quickly)
  • grown at a UK tree nursery from seed collected in the UK
  • beneficial to local wildlife.

We have not included trees that could outgrow a domestic garden, like oaks, or fruit trees that need more complex care.

The young trees may seem small at the time of collection, but they're easier to transport and more likely to establish well in their new homes, as their roots are under less stress.

Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris)

Description - Native and commonly found throughout Hertfordshire. Broadleaf, loses its leaves in the winter. A pretty, rounded tree with attractive blossom and fruit

                               Malus sylvestris leaf      Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris)

                                                                         © 2014 - 2023 Tree Guide Uk

Field Maple (Acer campestre)

Description - Native and commonly found throughout Hertfordshire. Broadleaf, loses its leaves in the winter

  • Soil - A resilient, tough tree, does well on most sites, except waterlogged soils. Especially good on chalky soils
  • Light – Tolerates sun and shade
  • Size - Typical height and canopy spread after ten years (7m / 3m) and after 20 years (12m / 6m)
  • Maples - Tree Guide UK - Maple tree identification

                              Acer campestre leaf      Acer campestre tree

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Description - Native and commonly found throughout Hertfordshire. Broadleaf, retains leaves through much of the winter

  • Soil - Will grow in any soil except bog. Very tough and hardy, copes well with strong winds even in exposed conditions
  • Light - Prefers full sun, tolerates light shade
  • Size - Typical height and canopy spread after ten years (4m / 3m) and after 20 years (8m / 5m)
  • Hawthorn - Tree Guide UK - Common Hawthorn tree identification

                              Crataegus monogyna leaf     Crataegus monogyna tree

Hazel (Corylus avellana)

Description - Native and commonly found throughout Hertfordshire. Broadleaf, loses its leaves in the winter

                              Corylus avellana leaf     Corylus avellana tree

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Description - Native and commonly found throughout Hertfordshire, particularly in the southern clay soils. Broadleaf, retains leaves through much of the winter

  • Soil - Does well on most soils including wet clays
  • Light - Tolerant of shade and frost pockets, withstands wind well without damage to branches.
  • Size - Typical height and canopy spread after ten years (6m / 4m) and 20 years (11m / 6m)
  • Hornbeam - Tree Guide UK Hornbeam identification

                               Carpinus betulus leaf      Carpinus betulus tree

Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

Description - Native and commonly found throughout Hertfordshire. Broadleaf, loses its leaves in the winter

  • Soil - Grows well in most soils, although does best on lighter soils. Tolerates very acidic soils and exposed conditions
  • Light - Prefers full sun or partial shade
  • Size - Typical height and canopy spread after ten years (8m / 3m) and after 20 years (12m / 5m)
  • Rowan - Tree Guide UK - Common Rowan tree identification

                              Sorbus aucuparia leaf      Sorbus aucuparia tree

Silver Birch (Betula pendula)

Description - Native and commonly found throughout Hertfordshire. Broadleaf, loses its leaves in the winter

  • Soil - Prefers light, free-draining sandy soils, including acid sands, but grows well on all but the heaviest of ground. Copes well in exposed conditions
  • Light – Tolerates sun and shade. Light canopy casting dappled shade, easily allowing other plants to grow beneath it
  • Size - Typical height and canopy spread after ten years (8m / 3m) and after 20 years (18m / 4m)
  • Silver Birch - Tree Guide UK - Silver Birch tree identification

                              Betula pendula leaf     Betula pendula tree

Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)

Description - Native and commonly found throughout Hertfordshire. Broadleaf, loses its leaves in the winter. An important tree for wildlife as well as for its ornamental value

                             Prunus avium leaf     Prunus padus tree

Hedgerow Packs (Hawthorn and mixed species)

Our hedgerow packs contain 36 trees including 25 hawthorn, 3 field maple, 4 hornbeam and 4 hazel. This species mix and numbers have been chosen to create an optimal hedge structure of approximately 6m.

 

How to collect your trees

Once you’ve requested your trees, we'll send you a confirmation email within the following 2 business days. If you don't receive this, please contact yourtree@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

Each district will have a dedicated local pick-up point. In November, we'll send you a further email to let you know where your pick-up point is, and when you can collect your trees.

The main collection date will be in December. The plants are dormant in December so it's the best time for transporting and planting them. If you can't make this date, we'll publish an alternative collection date at a central Hertfordshire location.

If you’re unable to collect your trees yourself, then a friend, neighbour or family member can collect them on your behalf.

Each tree will weigh very little, and can easily be transported without a vehicle. We'll provide a starch carrier bag which helps to stop the roots from drying out. These bags meet EN13432 composting standards and can be composted at home, so they're better for the environment than plastic pots.

We are unable to label trees individually, but these tree species identification guides should help.

 

Where and when to plant your tree 

Trees deliver the greatest benefits when planted close to where people live and work. By claiming free trees, you commit to planting them in a suitable location within Hertfordshire, either:

  • on land that you own, or
  • with the permission of the landowner.

We recommend you plant your trees within a few days of collection, or by the end of December at the latest. This will give them the best chance of surviving and thriving. Before planting, keep trees in a cool location, making sure the roots stay covered and protected so they don't dry out.

Plant trees at least 5m away from buildings, and consider the soil type and tree height, plus above and below ground services (water pipes and power lines).

Please water them while they establish.

You cannot plant your trees on highways verges

It is likely they would be mowed during routine maintenance.

We're already planning to plant woodlands and hedgerows on highway verges. This scheme is intended to help plant trees elsewhere in the county.

 

Care for your tree

Who is responsible for aftercare and maintenance?
This is the responsibility of the owner of the land the tree is planted on.

How do I plant and care for my tree?
See our guides.

Mulch?
Mulch - what is it, how to use it and benefits.
Mulch is bulky and impractical to transport without an appropriate vehicle, so we are unable to provide it, but you can buy it from garden centres.

What happens if my tree dies in its first year?
While regular aftercare significantly increases the chance of good growth, some trees may die, particularly if they're not watered. If this happens you can register for a replacement tree the following year.


Map of the trees you've planted so far

View map of trees planted

This map shows where the 122,000 trees given away during the first two years of the scheme have been planted, by postcode area.

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