MORE than 15,000 packets of free tree seeds are up for grabs to Oxfordshire residents – for one month only.

The Woodland Trust is dishing out the free seed sachets throughout February in a bid to massively increase the wealth of woodland across the county.

At the moment the charity says Oxfordshire has just nine per cent woodland cover – less than the average across England (10 per cent) and the UK as a whole (13 per cent).

The trust has a target of planting 64 million trees across the UK by 2025 and has started by dishing out some seeds to a group of verdant villagers just outside Bicester.

Residents in Launton spent decades battling to save Island Pond Wood from development and, in 1999, they won.

It was actually The Woodland Trust that helped villagers raise the £70,000 to buy the ten-acre site, and they celebrated by filling it with as many native tree as they could.

The only problem now is that all the trees are the same age, meaning they don't provide the best range of heights and sizes for the broadest range of wildlife to live there.

So, when the Friends of Island Pond Wood heard the Woodland Trust was scattering seeds around they reached out their hands to grab some of the goodies.

Members will now spend the next two years growing the tiny rowan, dog-rose, alder buckthorn and holly plants at home until they are big enough to plant out in the wild.

They will then cut back some of the least-healthy trees and replace them with smaller shrubs.

Group spokesman Bob Roberts said the Friends were delighted with the donation and urged others to take advantage of the free tree seed giveaway.

He said: "Every tree planted is good in my book.

"All the development going on around us tends to be a net loss of trees and habitat.

"If you can plant some trees you personally may not benefit but your children and grandchildren will."

Every seed packet comes with planting instructions and care advice, and the trust is encouraging recipients to share where their trees end up being planted.

The charity's woodland creation director John Tucker said: "To achieve our 64 million tree target across the UK we need support from communities everywhere.

"We have had great support from people in Oxfordshire throughout our history and we hope people will be inspired to apply for our free seeds and really make a difference."

All the seeds have been sourced from woods in the UK by the charity’s partner Forestart, the leading supplier of native tree species.

To get involved and claim your free seed pack visit woodlandtrust.org.uk/seeds during February.