CLIMATE change activists have launched a Save The Oaks campaign with the planting of 30,000 saplings to make up for the government going back on its national tree-planting scheme. 

The Tory broken promise means that 750,000 oak saplings are facing destruction in Britain after nurseries collected millions of acorns in anticipation of a surge in demand following ministers repeatedly encouraging the planting of native species.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) announced today it has put in an initial order for the oak saplings, having crowdfunded more than £10,000 so far. 

Save the Oaks volunteer Natasha Somers said: “The support we’ve seen is a testament to how a community can come together in difficult times.

“From the applications we’ve seen so far, it’s clear that people want to act for a better future, one where humanity and nature are connected.

“Oaks are symbolic of strength and resilience, qualities which we will need going into our collective future. 

“With that in mind, we are inviting more people to get involved in this next phase of the campaign. We want to give anyone that wants to plant and care for some oaks the chance to take part.”

XR said that they secured a substantially reduced cost of 22p per oak sapling from Maelor Forest Nurseries.

The nursery’s managing director Mike Harvey said: “We are delighted that these oak saplings have found good homes. 

“We were devastated at the prospect of having to destroy plants, which we had spent two years growing and nurturing, only to find they ultimately were being left without a future for reasons beyond our control.”

Donations to the campaign can be made at: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/extinctionrebellionrewilding.