THE Woodland Trust’s last mass distribution of trees for the 2017/18 planting season is well underway - including delivering 6,660 trees to 33 organisations in Surrey.

Following a few days’ delay due to the recent snow,  more than 1,100 schools and community groups across the UK are now taking delivery of some 352,830 saplings.

Since the free tree pack initiative started, five million trees - a mix of native species such as hazel, rowan, hawthorn, common oak,  silver birch, wild cherry, elder, dogwood and holly - have been sent to schools and four million to community groups.

In the South East, 48,750 trees are being sent out to 268 organisations – more than any other region in the country.

The free trees are funded by Sainsbury’s, IKEA FAMILY, players of People’s Postcode Lottery and Yorkshire Tea. In addition, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has supported the trust to provide 100,000 trees a year to state funded primary schools in England over the next four years.

John Tucker, director of woodland outreach, said: “Once again, the number of people applying for our free trees has blown us away. We are thrilled that people continue to want to plant with us.”

To apply for a school and community tree pack, visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/freetrees.