PEOPLE across Colchester will be able to get their hands on 10,000 trees which will be given away for free today.

Colchester Council's annual Trees for Years event is back for 2020.

And this year it is bigger than ever.

The scheme sees the council distribute the same number of trees as the year, but as part of the Colchester Woodland Project, the authority has multiplied the amount five-fold.

The plants will be a mix of native trees, shrubs and fruit bushes, chosen for their ability to promote wildlife in gardens and their value to the borough’s bee population.

Residents, community groups, schools, town and parish councils are all encouraged to take part.

Ground maintenance contractor idVerde has again sponsored the scheme, providing £2,000 to complement funding from the council’s Better Colchester campaign and Colchester Woodland Project.

To facilitate the increased number of trees, the event will take place in the car park of Colchester United’s Jobserve Community Stadium, in United Way, from 10am.

It will run until 2pm or until stocks last.

Households are entitled to up to ten trees and community groups or schools can take up to 50.

A range of exhibitors will be on site to provide advice on council services as well as goodies and extra information.

Free planting guides are also available.

The trees on offer are:

  • Acer campestre
  • Betula pendula
  • Corylus avellane
  • Ilex aquifolium
  • Prunus padus
  • Fagus sylvatica
  • Carpinus betulus
  • Cornus alba
  • Cornus S Flaviremea
  • Sorbus aucuparia
  • Tilia cordata
  • Quecus robur
  • Blackcurrant
  • Raspberry
  • Gooseberry
  • Lavender
  • Crataegus monogyna
  • Salix caprea
  • Malus sylvestris
  • Amelanchier lamarckii
  • Prunus avium

Visit colchester.gov.uk/treesforyears to find out more.