Free Nut and Fruit Trees
TreeLink Stirling is excited to share with you our newest project - bringing free nut and fruit trees to Raploch and Bannockburn.
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This project aims to increase urban tree canopy in neighbourhoods where there are the fewest trees and we are now offering apple, pear, plum, walnut and hazelnut trees to people who live in the project areas to plant in their own gardens for free!
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Urban trees are great! They improve air quality, capture harmful carbon, create flood resilience, create homes and food for wildlife and generally make our neighbourhoods nicer places to be. Our urban fruit and nut trees also have the potential to provide some tasty food!
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TreeLink would love to hear from you if:
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You have space in your own garden for a nut or fruit tree.
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You live within the community council area of Raploch and Bannockburn - see maps below.​
Raploch Community Council Area
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Bannockburn Community Council Area
Apply for your free nut or fruit tree now - applications will remain open until the end of October, or until all available trees have been claimed.
Applications will be open from May - September.
How to claim your free tree
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Claim Your Free Tree
Who can apply?
You can apply for a tree if:
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You live in the community council areas of Raploch and Bannockburn.
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You have room for at least a small tree in your garden.
What trees are available?
You can choose from the following trees: Apple, Pear, Plum, Walnut and Hazelnut.
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Am I guaranteed to get the tree I want?
Trees will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Depending on demand you may not get the type of tree you choose, but we'll try our hardest to give you your first choice. We will be offering site visits to ensure we offer the right tree for your space.
How will I get my tree?
We plan to deliver and help you to plant your tree between November 2024 and March 2025. As well as your tree, we’ll give you a stake and tie if you need it, a mulch mat, and a guide to planting and caring for your tree.
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Why do you need pictures and a map?
It is important that we can show evidence that the free trees have been planted and that the project is a success. We hope this will encourage other households to get involved and in future be able to secure further funding. Care will be taken to ensure there are no identifying details and all data collected will be subject to the Data Protection Act and our policy can be found here.
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How will we communicate?
All our communication is by email - please check your spam if you don't hear from us. You can contact us on nutandfruittrees@outlook.com if you have any questions.
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You can find a great guide to trees in your garden from the Royal Horticultural Society here.
Why Raploch and Bannockburn?
Trees play a vital role in public health and wellbeing as well as having an essential role in combating climate change. Using the recently released Tree Equity Score, these areas have been identified as having significant disparities in urban tree provision, and therefore less access to the benefits that trees provide.
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Tree equity score is based on a number of factors, including tree canopy, air pollution, heat, income, health, employment and age.
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Following on from the hugely successful Free Trees For Babies Project TreeLink feels that extending this project is a great way to increase the urban tree canopy and promote the benefits of trees and food growing.
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This project has been made possible through funding from the Urban Forestry Programme offered by Future Woodland Scotland.
These areas are also part of our Crown Of Trees and we are keen to work in these communities to further our project. You can find more about it here.
With thanks to our funder:
