Doncaster's Free Tree Giveaway

In 2024, City of Doncaster Council's Sustainability Unit, in partnership with the Woodland Trust, piloted Doncaster's Free Tree Giveaway. Within a few hours, all trees were reserved demonstrating our resident's commitment to a greener, cleaner city!

How it works

If we are able to source a donation of trees to be distributed, you will be notified by e-mail and we will share on council social media. Residents and landowners will then be able to reserve a ticket for free trees and hedgerows on a set date for them to collect. 

Once you have received your ticket for your free trees, an e-mail with further details on collection times, dates, and locations will be sent mid-October. If you do not receive this by the beginning of November, please contact sustainabilityteam@doncaster.gov.uk. 

The trees are dormant throughout the winter and so this is the best time for transporting and planting them. Once collected, we recommend you plant your tree as soon as possible and within 48 hours. 

Depending on availability, you will be able to choose available species and tailor it to the size of the area you are planting. For example, if planting in a small garden, you could choose a smaller tree such as rowan. If planting in an open field, you could choose a larger tree such as oak.

Collection

We will request your name and postcode on arrival and a member of the team will fetch your tree(s). The tree stock is currently heeled in, meaning it has been temporarily planted to protect the health of the tree and root systems. Upon arrival, your tree(s) will be carefully removed, and placed in a compostable bag to prevent the roots drying out, along with a tree tube and cane. Please do be careful with your tree as sudden impacts and shocks to the roots may damage it and reduce the chance of survival.

The tree will be around 30-60cm tall and can easily fit in a bag for life, bicycle basket, or the footwell of a car.

The bags are made of potato starch and have been chosen as they maintain structural integrity if damp (as the roots may be wet). The bags meet EN13432 composting standards and will compost at home within 300 days. 

Planting your tree

By claiming your free tree(s), you commit to planting them in a suitable location and caring for them after planting. When planting, ensure the trees are:

• on land you own, or you have the landowner's permission
• at least 5 metres away from buildings
• at least 5 metres away from above and below ground utilities (e.g. water pipes, power lines) which you can check here: https://lsbud.co.uk/
• planted within 2 days of collection

A planting and aftercare guidance booklet by the Woodland Trust can be found here: It's time to plant | PDF to Flipbook (heyzine.com)

Why we do it

Everyone in Doncaster should have access to green spaces and the natural environment, and they should have the opportunity to enhance existing spaces. Planting trees is great for cleaning air and water, mitigating floods, fighting climate change, supporting wildlife, and to make our outdoor spaces nicer places to be.