More trees are set to be planted in West Yorkshire.

And schools and community groups across Huddersfield will be leading the way.

They are to spruce up 62 sites across the county thanks to a charity’s free trees scheme

West Yorkshire falls below the national average when it comes to tree cover so local youngsters and community groups are taking action by getting their hands dirty and planting thousands of trees.

Some 3,500 tree packs will delivered to schools and community groups throughout the UK as part of the Woodland Trust’s Free Trees scheme.

West Yorkshire has just 7.9% tree cover compared to the national average of 13%.

Some groups have chosen to plant their trees to commemorate the centenary of the First World War, chiming with the charity’s own ambitions to create four large Centenary Woods for the public’s use by 2018 - 100 years since the end of the conflict.

John Tucker, the Woodland Trust’s Woodland Creation Director, said: “While the groups’ reasons for planting the packs of free trees are individual, the benefits to the county will be lasting. Trees capture carbon, create homes for wildlife, provide oxygen, improve air quality and can provide sustainable fuel. And yet the UK as a whole lags way behind the rest of Europe when it comes to tree numbers.

“It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm for the Woodland Trust’s free tree packs. It takes just 10 years for trees to grow well above head-height, so communities could be enjoying the rewards sooner than you’d think, as well as creating a lasting, living legacy for future generations.

“Currently the UK has significantly less woodland cover than the rest of Europe. Communities’ efforts to plant in their own localities to benefit the people who live there is admirable and helps us work toward our target of doubling native woodland cover.”

Schools backing the scheme include North Huddersfield Trust School, Ashbrow School, St Thomas’s School, Bradley, Harlequin Day Nursery, Newsome Junior School, Golcar JIN School and Wooldale Junior School.

Scout groups are also involved as are community groups in Marsden, Brighouse, Holmbridge and Fartown.