Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust have been working with West Lothian Council to develop a range of tree donation packages to enable more trees to be planted as part of its Climate Change Initiative.

The scheme was launched during National Tree week with the planting of a statement tree – a golden weeping willow Salix x sepucralis Chrysocoma by the councils Parks and Woodland Staff, accompanied by  Executive councillor for the environment Tom Conn.

Trees play a really important part in how areas of West Lothian look and feel. They also provide habitats for all sorts of other species and help combat climate change by their ability to capture carbon dioxide from the air and convert it into wood. Recent research has confirmed what many always knew that being close to tree cover also improves human health.

There is a need to plant more trees in West Lothian which has seen an increase in the number of trees that have chalara ash disease where many trees will have to be removed in the coming years. There are thousands of ash trees on public land in West Lothian and many more on private land. Ash is one of the most common, native tree species in the area, and it contributes significantly to the local landscape and ecology.

The population of ash trees tends to be mainly semi-mature trees with only a small proportion of large, mature trees but nevertheless will deplete the landscape of important features both now and in the future. There are many more ash trees in woodland areas, especially young ones, which have also succumbed to Ash Dieback Disease.  It is estimated that there are over 12,000 Ash trees in a poor condition which have less than 50% of the crown remaining and 21,000 Ash trees showing symptoms but with over 50% of the crown still remaining.

You can also claim Gift Aid which will add 25% more to your donation at no cost to you. A Gift Aid declaration allows Tree time to claim tax back on eligible donations. It means that for every £1 you donate to Tree Time we can claim back 25p, at no extra cost to you.