I Dig Trees

2 million trees. And growing.

Together we continue to smash our tree planting targets for climate, wildlife and communities! But we have only just begun.

Add your email below to hear about the next round of free carbon-busting trees from OVO Energy and TCV

I Dig Trees with OVO Energy is now in its eighth year. This fantastic partnership programme goes from strength to strength and is a great opportunity for any community group or volunteer to join in, feel good and make a real difference:

For climate. For wildlife. For communities – I Dig Trees!

If you are a community group and have any concerns about tree planting during Covid please refer to our TCV Working Safely During Covid Guidance

Please note: Free trees are only available in mainland UK, not Northern Ireland.

OVO Energy members with carbon-cutting upgrades have pledged another 600,000 carbon-busting trees for local green spaces – the most trees pledged to date!

Trees. They’re not just nice to look at. These wooden wonders literally eat carbon out of the air, improving the air we breathe and enhancing our local community green spaces for the benefit of people and wildlife alike – that’s why we looove them!

Our tree planting efforts couldn’t happen without the help of YOU, wonderful volunteers and community groups coming together to make a difference…

"950 saplings have been planted at the CoFarm Cambridge site with help from volunteers … The species-rich hedgerow will act to boost biodiversity within the farm, as well as provide a natural windbreak and prevent soil erosion."

CoFarm
Cambridge, England

"We had our big plant up event Saturday for the Shepton Mallet food forest plot. I have attached some pictures of the very successful day. Over 120 members of the community of all ages came along to plant up and have a slice of cake. Thank you for the tree packs that made this day possible."

The Food Forest Project
Shepton Mallet, England

"680 young saplings planted in quick time by Llanrhaedr Community Woodland Group at the beginning of the month – all provided by the “I Dig Trees” initiative. Next year we will be planting some wildflowers on the bank to try to return a little glimpse of our much-depleted meadows."

Llanrhaedr Community Woodland
Powys, Wales

"We had a really great day teaching our volunteers how to plant a hedgerow, the importance of rich bio-diverse hedgerows and the key to identifying each of the different trees. It wouldn’t have been possible without the donation from The Conservation Volunteers and OVO Energy."

Whitlingham Country Park Volunteers
Norwich, England

"We had a fantastic turnout of around 100 volunteers from our community. All 1000 trees were planted, forming a small corpse, in just under 2 hours, a fantastic team effort. Thank you again for donating the trees, I'm sure they will prosper and create a peaceful place where people can go to reflect."

We are Halton
Leeds, England

"20 pupils and 8 parent volunteers planted around 100 trees. Despite cold and windy weather everyone was enthusiastic about our tree planting day! The Wildlife and Shrub pack helped to create new wildlife habitat, as part of our hedgehog conservation project... It’s a great way to encourage teamwork in school and the kids absolutely love getting stuck in."

Hedges for Hogs
Glasgow, Scotland

"The trees we received were very good quality and transported with care and we are confident that we have planted at the optimum time of year to give these trees the best start … We will be contacting you as soon as you open for I Dig Trees applications!"

ComunityTrees: MK
Milton Keynes, England

"We have had the sad job of felling many Ash trees in our local wood, which is 50% Ash. The saplings are helping to fill the gaps plus natural regeneration... bug hotels and a junior assault course were made with the felled Ash trees."

Allington Hill, Cooper’s Wood and Field Community Group
Allington, England

"300 trees and shrubs planted, several bags of litter collected as we went … All whilst making a difference on our local patch. We also had one of the team spot a Peacock Butterfly! We have been down a few times since the weekend with a rucksack full of water bottles and flasks to give the trees a water."

Widey Woods Conservation Community
Plymouth, England

"There was a real buzz in our community about the event and people really enjoyed being outside and doing something to enhance our environment. This was such a brilliant thing to be involved in and we are very grateful to OVO and TCV for providing the trees."

Shaw Mills Community Beck Group
Harrogate, England

"As an aquatic ecologist, I am keenly aware the ecosystem goods and services that trees provide to water courses: shade, bank resilience, cover and diversity, natural flood management, corridors for terrestrial fauna etc. Climate change will have further impacts upon watercourses, so I am keen to get as much riparian planting as possible."

Wild Trout Trust
Lancaster, England

"We had a fantastic day for our tree planting event. We planted a new 200m hedgerow. Once again, thanks so much to TCV and I Dig Trees. We really enjoy doing these events, the trees you provide really help us to achieve our aims! "

Fife and Kinross Bat Group
Fife and Kinross, Scotland

How to nominate a community group

Are you part of a community group that would benefit from receiving FREE trees? Then we would love you to nominate them. We have 12,000 packs of 50 trees – a total of 600,000 FREE trees!

To nominate your group you will need to provide us with the following information:

The group name
Person responsible
Address
Email address
Where the trees will be planted
How will you make use of these trees?
Which packs and how many are required (maximum of 19 packs – 950 trees – per group).

We will:

Confirm the nomination with the group
Inform them of a delivery date
Support sustainable planting by sending our tree planting guide to encourage best practice and tree aftercare recommendations

How to volunteer as an individual

Joining a local tree-planting group not only helps your local community but also supports the environment, improves your health and wellbeing and is a great way to meet new people.

TCV volunteering projects provide:

The guidance of a skilled and knowledgeable leader
All tools and safety equipment
Insurance whilst on site
Knowledge sharing regarding trees and the local environment
A place to meet people and make new friendships!

You need:

To complete a volunteer registration form when you arrive
Comfortable clothing including waterproofs (it will be autumn/winter after all)
The “join in, feel good” attitude!

Are there trees in my local area?

More than likely the answer is yes! The map below shows where our trees have been planted - but there’s always scope for more... Where will you plant yours?

The Queen’s Green Canopy

The Conservation Volunteers are a proud partner of The Queen’s Green Canopy.

All trees will be registered to the “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee” campaign, part of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.

As well as inviting the planting of new trees, The Queen’s Green Canopy will dedicate a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identify 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.

I Dig Trees - tree information

Our tree packs are predetermined with varieties that best suit a particular growing environment and all are recommended UK varieties. All packs come with the option (see below) of 50 x spiral guards (60cm x 50mm dia.) and supporting cane (90cm 12/14lbs) and packaged in forestry co-extruded bags.

Reducing and recycling plastic

All our trees are supplied with a plastic spiral guard, these are to protect the trees from rabbits and perhaps strimming or mowing after they have been planted. TCV and OVO Energy are committed to managing the amount of plastic we use and raising awareness of the importance of using less plastic.

Before placing your order, please consider: Do you need the spiral guards? Perhaps you are planting in a fenced or protected area. Perhaps you know you do not have a localised problem with rabbits. If you do not require spiral guards, or only a part order, please indicate this on your order form.

Pack 1. Large Plot Pack	10 x Common Oak, 10 x Silver Birch, 10 x Beech (common/green), 10 x Hornbeam and 10 x Common Alder
Pack 2. Small Plot Pack	10 x Rowan, 10 x Wild Cherry, 10 x Downy Birch, 10 x Field maple and 10 x Goat Willow
Pack 3. Hawthorn Hedgerow Pack	20 x Hawthorn, 20 x Spindle and 10 x Dog Rose Note; For those who would prefer a mixed hedge, you should order the Hawthorn Pack together with the Wildlife & Shrubs Pack below, as all the species listed would be suitable for a mixed native hedge
Pack 4. Wildlife & Shrubs Pack	10 x Hawthorn, 10 x Goat Willow, 10 x Dog Rose, 10 x Hazel and 10 x Spindle Note; Whilst this is the core mix, Please note we reserve the right to substitute with other suitable native shrub species in line with availability. This maybe to Wild Privet, for example.
Pack 5. Native Woodland Pack (new for 2021)	16 x Common Oak, 10 x Silver Birch, 9 x Aspen, 5 x Beech, 3 x Alder, 3 x Hornbeam, 2 x Rowan and 2 x Goat Willow

(Please note, each order is limited to a maximum of 19 packs – 950 trees – in total)

Plant Companions

Be a Plant Companion for up to 3 years after you have planted your bare root plants.

Vital to the success of a planting scheme, Plant Companions stay connected by checking in on growth rates, and weeding, strimming or mowing around the base of their plants.

Once plants are established (typically from year 3 onwards), a Plant Companion completes this initial phase by removing the spiral protection for recycling.

Thanks to the original planting team in year 1 and the Plant Companions that help the scheme take root through years 2 and 3, it is at this stage plants can ‘go it alone’.