Wild Cherry has run out in Chelmsford's free tree giveaway, eight days in. The claim page lists 214 of 1,200 trees left: Scots pine, wild service and spindle.
Wild Cherry has already run out in Chelmsford City Council’s free tree giveaway, eight days after claims opened. On Tuesday morning the claim page listed 214 trees left of the 1,200 on offer, across three species.
The council opened the scheme on Monday 5 October. It runs until Thursday 5 November, or until the trees run out (Chelmsford City Council). More than four in five trees were claimed in the first eight days.
What is left
The Love Your Chelmsford claim page showed these counts when we read it on Tuesday 13 October (Love Your Chelmsford):
| Tree | Left | Height when mature |
|---|---|---|
| Wild service tree | 87 | 8 to 12m |
| Spindle | 87 | 2.5 to 4m |
| Scots pine | 40 | 12m and more |
| Wild cherry | 0 | 15 to 24m |
The council’s figures add up to 214 out of 1,200, so about 986 have been claimed.
Which tree suits which garden
The council describes the four species on its claim page and in its launch post:
- Spindle is the one for a small garden. It tops out at 2.5 to 4 metres, and turns russet in autumn with pink and orange fruit. Its leaves and berries are toxic to people and pets.
- Wild service tree is a rare native with maple-like leaves that turn coppery red. It grows to 8 to 12 metres. The council says it is new to the giveaway this year.
- Scots pine is the first conifer the scheme has given away, and one of only three native British conifers. It can pass 12 metres and live for 700 years. The council suggests a large pot to keep it small.
- Wild cherry, back by popular demand, has gone.
The trees are two-year-old saplings, about 40 to 60cm tall.
How to claim and collect
You fill in an online form, choose a species and a collection point, and get a confirmation email. The rules on the claim page:
- the scheme is only for residents of the Chelmsford district
- one tree per resident (the council’s launch post says one per household)
- bring the confirmation email and proof of address when you collect
- bring your own bag or container
The three collection days are all at the end of November:
| Where | When |
|---|---|
| Compass Gardens Park, South Woodham Ferrers, overflow car park, CM3 5GU | Thursday 26 November, 10am to 2pm |
| Melbourne Park, Chelmsford, car park by the astro turf, CM1 2EH | Friday 27 November, 10am to 2pm |
| Bell Meadow Park, city centre, opposite M&S, CM2 0PD | Saturday 28 November, 9.30am to 1pm |
The council says its parks team will be at each one to give planting advice.
What it means for you
- If you want a tree, claim it now. Scots pine has the fewest left, at 40.
- If you rent, the council asks you to get the landowner’s permission before planting.
- Plant within a couple of weeks of collecting it. Until then, keep it outside somewhere cool and cover the roots against frost and drying out. If you have to wait longer, the council says put it in a pot and move it in the dormant season, December to March.
- Mind your foundations. The council’s advice is to plant a tree at least as far from a building as it will grow tall, especially on clay soil, or keep it in a large pot.
Chelmsford’s parks have 19 Green Flag awards this year, and the tree giveaway is part of the same Love Your Chelmsford programme. More on the parks is on our Green Flag parks page.
Sources
- Chelmsford City Council, “Free tree giveaway for Chelmsford residents returns for 2026”, 5 October 2026, for the 1,200 trees, the 5 October to 5 November window, the one-per-household rule, the species notes and the collection days.
- Love Your Chelmsford, Tree Giveaway Scheme, read 13 October 2026, for the trees left by species, the mature heights, the claim and collection rules, the collection addresses and the planting advice.
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