9. Your tree-planting checklist 12 weeks before · Pick a place to plant your Family Tree and get permission from the landowner · Fix a date for your event, and start sending out invites – remember that your MP’s diary will fill up quickly, so the more notice you can give them the better! · Start posting about the event on social media, tagging local groups and sharing in community Facebook groups, and put up posters in places used by people in your community · Let JCWI know about the event you’re planning by emailing [email protected] 4 weeks before · Contact local journalists to let them know, and follow up with your MP if they haven’t responded · Send a follow-up to remind invitees about your event · Ask a local garden centre if they would like to donate a tree 2 weeks before · Send a reminder to any journalists who haven’t responded, letting them know who else is planning to attend · If you’ve not had luck getting a donated tree, order one from the Woodland Trust website On the day · Before the event, send a message to everyone who is coming to confirm the date and exact location · Enjoy coming together with others from your community to plant a Family Tree! Make sure to take plenty of photos and video footage, and ask permission from anyone featured – these can be used for social media, or shared with any journalists who haven’t been able to come in person · If your MP is able to come, make sure to take photos with them and share on social media Afterwards · Thank your MP for coming, and follow up with journalists to see if they need anything else · Send a message to everyone who attended to thank them, and ask them to keep in touch · Check in with JCWI to let us know how your event went · Your tree shouldn’t need to be watered, as it will adapt to natural conditions – but someone is able to weed the area around the tree every few months, this will give it the best possible start in life!