Welcome to the SuperValu and Centra Tree Project.
This tree planting project is generously supported by SuperValu and Centra.
Please read the following information carefully and follow the instructions at the bottom of the page to begin an application for trees.
Application Notes:
The project is open to Farms and Smallholdings, Community Groups, Schools, Colleges and Sports Clubs located within 5 miles of a SuperValu or Centra Store in Northern Ireland.
If you are not within 5 miles of a store in NI please click HERE for our other tree planting schemes.The trees will be supplied at no charge - you will not need to pay for the trees.
Applications are accepted on a first come first served basis, numbers of trees are limited so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.
Applications are limited to 250 trees, please take care not to exceed this number when filling out the application form. There is a box to tick on the application form if you would like extra trees if we should have any spares.
The SuperValu and Centra Team would like to visit your project during or just after the tree planting to meet the different landowners and groups involved and to take photos for publicity purposes. You will need to confirm that you are happy with this in the application form.
Applications for trees will close at 6pm on Friday 15th November 2024. In the event of all trees being accounted for before the deadline, we will close the applications early.
If at any stage you need help or advice on your application, please email to info@treesontheland.com - please let us know your query is about the SuperValu Centra Project and we will advise you as needed.
Tree Details:
You will receive your trees over the coming winter between late January and mid March 2025 - they will be delivered to you direct by courier or by one of our local helpers. We will be in touch to let you know when to expect your delivery.
You will need to be ready to plant the trees yourself with help from your community group, club or family and friends.
The trees must be planted within a week of receiving them to ensure they have time to settle in before the spring.
The trees are all native Irish trees, grown from Irish provenance seed in Irish nurseries.
The trees are small forestry grade whips between 30cm and 60cm tall and sometimes a little larger. They are very tough and hardy at this size and tend to settle in and take off far more quickly than a larger tree even if they look like tiny twigs when first planted.
You will need to mark out and protect the trees so that they are not eaten or trampled by wild animals or livestock and so that they are not accidentally damaged by mowing or strimming.
Tree packs are made up of a mix of species carefully selected to grow well together and establish quickly and reliably. You can specify any special requirements on your application form and we will adjust the mixes accordingly, for example if you have very wet or exposed ground or if you wish to exclude any particular species.
Tree Packs Available:
You will be able to order up to 250 trees in total and you can ask for a mixture of the following packs.
The smallest packs are 25 trees and up to 250 trees for the largest packs.
Woodland Packs:
Suitable for establishing small areas or pockets of woodland or coppice.
50 trees will cover approximately 1/20th of an acre set at 2m x 2m spacings.
Packs will include an appropriate mix of oak, birch, hazel, scots pine, alder, rowan and hawthorn with other native species included if supplies permit.
Hedge Packs:
Suitable for planting a new length of hedge or for filling gaps in an old hedge.
50 trees will set 10 metres of hedgerow with 5 plants per metre on a staggered row.
Packs will include an appropriate mix of hawthorn, hazel, oak, birch and rowan with blackthorn and other native species included if supplies permit.
Shelter Belt Packs:
Suitable for establishing rows and strips of shelter belt trees.
One pack of 50 trees will make approximately 50 metres of shelter belt with trees set at 2 metre intervals in two staggered rows 2 metres apart.
Packs will include an appropriate mix of alder, birch, hazel, oak, rowan, hawthorn and scots pine with other native species if supplies permit.
Scattered Parkland Tree Packs:
Suitable for setting individual trees or small groups of trees onto pasture in a parkland or wood-pasture style.
Trees can be widely spaced at random or with at least 15-20 metres between trees.
Packs will include an appropriate mix of oak, birch, alder, hawthorn and scots pine with other native species if supplies permit.
You may specify which species you would like on the application form in the special requirements box.
Guidelines:
We take great care to ensure that our tree planting is beneficial and appropriate and that we don’t do any unintentional damage to important protected habitats or infrastructure. Please read the following guidelines carefully, they will help you to plan your tree planting work and avoid any mistakes in the planting.
Designated Land, Sensitive Sites and Maximum Areas:
You mustn’t plant trees on unenclosed land, moorland, wetland, heathland or bog. You should also avoid planting on unimproved or marginally improved pasture or meadow that has never been ploughed, seeded or improved.
You mustn’t plant on land falling within an SAC, SPA, NHA, pNHA, SSSI or any other designated site.
If you your land falls within any of the above sensitive or designated areas please email to our team for advice and we will help you with your application and plans.
You must leave an unplanted buffer area of 20 meters along pond edges, streams and rivers and other waterways. Trees can be planted in small numbers within this area as long as there is an even balance of light and shade so that the water is not more than 50% shaded along its length. Please ask us for advice if you are unsure or if you have a stream or river that is part of an SAC.
You mustn’t plant more than 0.1 Ha or 1/4 Acre as one plot. You can plant several smaller plots of ground but they must each be less than 0.1 Ha or 1/4 Acre.
Setting Back:
It is really important that your trees don’t interfere with existing infrastructure or services, please plan your planting carefully and observe the following guidelines.
Keep back 5 metres from power lines and phone cables and don’t plant directly beneath them.
Keep back 6 metres from underground gas pipes, sewage pipes, electric cables, water pipes and land drains and do not plant trees over the top of them.
Avoid planting within 10-20 metres of inhabited buildings. Use common sense here, you can plant a little closer if you wish, but remember that tree roots spread widely under the ground and will interfere with foundations on barns, sheds, walls and concrete yards etc. Always give yourself plenty of room, you’ll be surprised how a tiny tree will spread out and fill the space you have given it and you don’t want to block access to maintain walls, rooves etc. when they need it.
You must set trees at least 20m away from any known archaeological or monument sites above or below ground.
Set back 3 - 5 metres from small roads and tracks and 10 meters from main roads. Even hedgerows will need this set back, they grow wider than you think as they establish.
Set back 2 - 10 metres from fence lines, walls and other boundaries. Young trees will quickly fill the gap and will interfere with fences and walls. Similarly livestock will reach easily up to 1.5m over or through a fence to eat trees, so always leave plenty of room.
Set back 3-5 metres from hedges and ditches so that you always have room to get at the hedge or ditch for maintenance as needed. If you are restocking or extending an existing hedge or planting a bank along a ditch, this does not apply.
A Guide to planning, planting, weeding and protecting your trees:
Please click on the button below to read lots more information on planning, planting and looking after your trees.
We recommend that you read this information before you begin an application.
Please click on the button below to begin your application.