NATURE-LOVERS are being asked to sponsor trees across East Lothian as part of a new scheme to ensure their survival.

The Tree Time initiative, spearheaded by the Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust in partnership with East Lothian Council, aims to increase and maintain East Lothian’s trees through commemorating a loved one’s life, marking a child’s birth, celebrating a special anniversary or just sharing how much a person cares about trees or East Lothian as a place.

By taking part in Tree Time, donors can choose from a range of packages from £20 to £2,000, all of which will go towards planting more trees and looking after existing trees in East Lothian.

The higher end of the donation scale offers the opportunity to sponsor an existing tree or pay for a new tree to be planted. A personalised, commemorative plaque will be placed on the tree in recognition of the donation.

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Charlie Cumming, chief executive at Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, said: “Urban trees are crucial in providing green corridors and make up some of East Lothian’s streets, landmarks and parks.

“Many of those trees are now reaching the end of their natural lives.

“Tree Time East Lothian aims to work with partners in order to raise funds to begin planting now.

“We want to plant large, prominent trees in East Lothian’s communities, before the existing ones die.”

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Councillor John McMillan, Provost of East Lothian, said: “Trees in our local communities help enhance and enrich our towns, villages and quality of life, as well as helping us tackle the climate and nature emergencies.

“The Tree Time project enables individuals and groups to contribute towards the planting of more trees and also assists the council to look after our existing trees.

“Tree Time is a welcome initiative which supports our own pledge to plant an additional two million trees across the county through our climate forest proposal.

“I hope many people, including groups and local businesses across our communities, will engage further and actively participate in this worthy scheme.”