Lincolnshire County Council has confirmed a renewed partnership with the Woodland Trust that will see a major increase in tree and hedgerow planting across the county over the next two years.
The new agreement runs from 2026 to 2028 and will support the planting of around 217,900 trees, building on the 207,000 planted under the previous partnership. The scale of the programme is equivalent to covering more than 60 football pitches with new woodland.
Alongside this, Lincolnshire is set to gain 12 additional miles of hedgerow, enough to line up roughly 2,000 double-decker buses. The expansion comes as the county works to improve its low tree-canopy coverage, which currently stands at just 4%.
For residents, the plan includes more opportunities to bring greenery into their own spaces. The council will distribute 125 free tree packs each year, amounting to 12,500 trees over the two years. Free hedgerow packs will also return, with 100 offered in both 2026 and 2027, adding another 55,000 trees.
Wider woodland creation will increase as well. The programme aims for 12.5 hectares of new woodland annually, with the Woodland Trust subsidising 90% of young tree and protection costs. This will provide around 20,000 trees each year.
The initiative also supports the growth of community orchards, with 200 potted standard trees available annually for local councils and community groups looking to create or expand shared green spaces.
Image credit: Lincolnshire County Council
