Call on Ballymena Community groups to apply for free tree packs

The ‘Trees for Communities’ campaign, which is being supported by IKEA, is in place to try and address Northern Ireland’s lack of woodland. Schools, councils, youth and community groups are all eligible to apply.

Recent statistics from the Woodland Trust revealed that Northern Ireland is one of the least wooded countries with just 7 per cent woodland cover, compared to the European average of 44 per cent.

Community groups are being urged to apply online at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ikeacommunitytrees for the saplings which are to be planted in November. Groups can apply for a pack of 60 trees, 105 trees or 420 trees which also come in a choice of themes.

The tree planting initiative hopes to see thousands of saplings planted throughout Northern Ireland in the next two years. The Woodland Trust’s Patrick Cregg says, “It is vitally important that communities throughout Northern Ireland share our vision to create more woodland here. Trees and woods are essential to a healthy ecosystem and planting trees now will reap real benefits for future generations.”

IKEA Belfast’s Nigel McGarry said, “Now is the time to address the serious lack of woodland throughout Northern Ireland. IKEA is delighted to support this excellent ‘Trees for Communities’ campaign which is designed to mobilise communities to get involved in tree planting.”

IKEA, which has partnered with the Woodland Trust since 2007, has raised over £1.35 million for the charity and has helped to create over 309 acres of woodland in the UK - equivalent to the size of the Olympic Village. In Northern Ireland, the partnership enabled the replanting of thousands of saplings as well as a wildflower meadow at arson-hit Carnmoney Hill in Newtownabbey.

IKEA is further supporting the charity with a new ‘Foot of Forest in your local community’ campaign, whereby IKEA FAMILY members will activate a contribution towards a total donation of £500,000 from IKEA with every swipe of their membership card.

IKEA also aim to raise an additional £500,000 through customer contributions at the checkouts of all IKEA stores, where customers will be invited to donate a £1 for a tree to be planted by a community group. Money raised from both schemes will go towards the Woodland Trust’s ‘Trees for the Community’ scheme.

Successful applications will be informed by October 2012. Applications for spring 2013 packs open on August 21.