RARE red squirrels and budding young bikers are among those to benefit from a raft of free trees for schools and communities across the UK – 54,397 in North Yorkshire.

The Woodland Trust, the largest woodland conservation charity in the country, has delivered trees to be planted by people of all ages and backgrounds, in a variety of places - from schools to golf clubs to grand parks.

North Yorkshire has tree cover of 7.92 per cent compared to the national average of 13 per cent.

Beccy Speight, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, said: “Our free tree scheme has been running since 2004 and so far we have delivered 7.6 million free trees for many different causes – bringing nature to hundreds of thousands of people.

“It is really great to see the many reasons people plant these trees, from providing that little bit of green space amid a sea of buildings, as part of projects to bring people together and for the health benefits of getting into the great outdoors.

“Of course, there are the equally important environmental reasons – more trees means more oxygen, more homes for wildlife, and more spaces that people can enjoy and visit."

The new trees will also contribute towards the Woodland Trust’s First World War Centenary Woods Project, which aims to create a poignant legacy to those who lived and served in the First World War.

To apply for a free planting pack, visit woodlandtrust.org.uk/freetrees