Free Tree Scheme ‘Your Tree Our Future’ returns
Hertfordshire is set to become a whole lot greener as the ‘Your Tree Our Future’ scheme returns for 2026.
Delivered in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, the county’s ten district and borough councils, as well as several local charities, the initiative offers people the opportunity to plant trees at home, helping to enhance local community spaces and to support wildlife.
Through the scheme, residents can apply for up to five individual trees, choosing from a selection of eight native species suited to Hertfordshire’s landscape and climate. Alternatively, applicants can request four trees and a hedgerow pack with enough trees to plant six metres of hedgerow, ideal for creating natural boundaries and wildlife habitats.
Together, these trees are expected to make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions while improving air quality, offering shade from heat and supporting biodiversity across the county. Trees will be available while stocks last, with up to 5,000 trees available to residents of Stevenage this year.
This year, over 100,000 trees will be made available free of charge to residents across Hertfordshire, enabling them to plant at home and improve their area. During its first four years, thousands of residents have taken part and helped plant more than 287,000 trees.
Following on from high demand from residents last year, the project has been expanded and aims to provide habitat for wildlife, improve air quality, and help the county reduce its overall carbon footprint.
Cllr Rob Broom, Stevenage Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Planning, said: “The expansion of this scheme is great news for residents of Stevenage, a town that can be proud of its green spaces and biodiversity. This is a great opportunity to improve our environment and make our town a greener and better place to live. This year, we are providing top-up funding from the Climate Change Community Fund (CCCF) for an extra 2,000 saplings specifically for residents of the town. I’d encourage you to claim your trees and take part.”
Residents who apply will receive confirmation by email, along with details of how and where to collect their trees from a local distribution point in early December 2026.