UP to five free young trees, or whips, are being offered from a hub on the Blackdown Hills for people to plant in their gardens or on any land where they have permission to do so.

Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) is running five ‘Free Tree Hubs’ as part of its ‘Wild in Devon’ programme, including one in Hemyock’s Longmead Pavilion on Sunday, February 22, from 10 am to 1 pm.

The whips are being given away during the winter months with people able to collect between one and five free cell-grown trees, along with planting guides and tree protection.

A DWT spokesperson said: “We will have a selection of native broadleaved tree species grown at our two community tree nurseries.

“All trees are Devon-grown, collected from seed and nurtured in Devon, including species such as oak, rowan, and crab apple.

“They are cell-grown and come with their roots in compost, so you can choose to plant them straight away or pot them up until you are ready to plant.

“The tree hub is free, thanks to the generous support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, One Tree Planted, and Otter Brewery.

“Our tree hubs tend to be busy at opening, however, there are plenty of each species so please feel free to come at any time.”

The spokesperson said anybody who wanted more than five trees should email in advance to [email protected].

DWT’s vision over the next decade is to double the land area which is rich in nature, with soils, rivers, farmland, and urban areas managed sustainably ‘so the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the fields and streets we walk through make us healthier and happier’.

The spokesperson said: “We want at least a quarter of the population to be making nature, and action for nature, part of their daily lives.”