THERE’S a free tree giveaway and wild flower seed bonanza taking place this weekend.
Bovey Tracey Town Council, in partnership with Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT), is giving away free trees and seed packs to plant in your gardens.
This is part of DWT’s ‘Saving Devon’s Treescapes’ project.
A council spokesman said: ‘Devon’s treescapes are under threat from ash dieback, which is predicted to kill at least 90 per cent of Devon’s ash trees in the coming years.
‘But we can all help, by planting a tree – every extra tree planted will also take a bit more carbon out of the atmosphere and therefore contribute to tackling the climate emergency that we are facing.’
The council is also giving away packs of wild flower seeds to help encourage more nature into gardens.
Wild flower areas provide sanctuaries for pollinating insects which are crucial to our agriculture and which are currently in significant decline. Creating corridors of wild flowers from garden to garden can give bees and other pollinators a boost.
For those who need a little green-fingered advice, free planting guides will also be available for both the trees and wild flower seeds
The giveaway is taking place at the new Riverside Community Centre in Station Road, Bovey Tracey, from 9.30am this Saturday, October 17, and on Saturday, November 7.
Cllr Debbie Fletcher said: ‘It’s on a first come, first served, basis – we’re planning on being there until 12.30pm both days, but if the 125 trees available each day go quicker than that we will finish earlier.’
Due to Covid-19 safety restrictions, people are asked to wear a mask and keep two metres apart from others while waiting to collect the trees and seed packs.