We have donated 2,015 saplings to worthy causes

We recently invited schools, charities, village organisations and community groups to nominate themselves for our annual sapling giveaway scheme.

We have now given away groups of between 50 and 100 small indigenous British varieties of saplings to 17 schools and organisations.

We really enjoy hosting the sapling giveaway as it feels great to be helping organisations with their various gardening needs. We hope to continue running it for many more years to come.

One of the organisations to benefit from a donation of saplings was Willowdown Primary Academy in Bridgwater.

Pam Rodger, Business Manager at the school on Kings Drive, said: “We are currently in the process of planning and developing our outdoor area to include some woodland. This will enable children to extend their learning outdoors.

“We intend to run a forest school, which will provide the children with an opportunity to develop confidence learning outside the classroom, encourage independence and support our more vulnerable pupils with social and emotional needs.

“We’re really pleased to have received the saplings from the garden centre as they will be extremely useful in our new developments.”

Another organisation to receive a donation of saplings was Creech St Michael Parish Council.

Ken Hunt, Chairperson at Creech St Michael Parish Council, said: “The Parish Council owns the Rec Park in Hyde Lane and we were looking for trees or bushes to plant there to benefit local people and wildlife, which is why we put ourselves forwards for the sapling giveaway.

“We’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to the garden centre for its kind donation.”