A TREE-MENDOUS initiative is offering people the chance to sponsor a tree to mark a significant occasion.

East Lothian Council has joined up with the Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust for a new partnership.

Its aim is to increase and maintain the county’s trees by offering a way of commemorating a loved one’s life, marking a child’s birth, celebrating a special anniversary or just to show how much a person cares about trees and East Lothian.

East Lothian Provost John McMillan helped mark the launch of Tree Time at St Mary’s Parish Church in Haddington on March 30.

He said: “Trees help mitigate the climate emergency and in East Lothian we continue to seek ways to preserve and expand tree cover across the county, to contribute towards our East Lothian Climate Forest and enhance our nature networks.

“Unfortunately, some trees are under threat due to their age, environmental changes and diseases such as ash dieback.

“We know many local residents are equally as passionate about our trees as we are and I believe Tree Time is an excellent way for people to play a pivotal role in making the county better, healthier and even more beautiful while celebrating a special occasion or commemorating a loved one.”

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 in East Lothian, as well as looking after existing trees, with an initial focus on planting more street trees.

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.

Charlie Cumming, chief executive of 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.”