Birmingham's business community is being asked to go green in 2008 and take part in a community-led initiative to promote the importance of trees in the city.

The Birmingham Civic Society, which is behind the Birmingham Trees for Life campaign, is inviting businesses interested in improving the environment to take part in its corporate Plant a Tree for Life Day scheduled for Friday, February 22.

For a donation of £250, businesses can send up to 10 members of staff to attend this special woodland planting day at Sheldon Country Park where they will help plant a large mature tree and several smaller trees.

This is an opportunity for businesses to make a real difference to the local environment by creating a new community woodland, as well as using the day as both a corporate team building event and PR initiative.

Participating companies will have the chance to take publicity photographs at the event and be presented with a commemorative plaque for display at their company.

Rob Blyth, chief executive of Hortons' Estate and chairman of Birmingham Trees for Life, said: "We're not asking companies to dig deep in terms of support, but put their money where there mouth is and not just pay lip service to going green in 2008.

"And we're hoping that businesses and staff will recycle their Christmas trees and become eco-friendly by giving support to the Plant a Tree for Life business day.

"There are also opportunities for companies to further their Community and Social Responsibilities by becoming sponsors or patrons of Birmingham Trees for Life."

This is the latest initiative for the group, set up in 2006, with aims that include one 'to encourage the involvement of everyone, especially young people in tree planting to stimulate their care for the environment'.

The group's Reading Trees project is one example that has given more than 150 Birmingham schoolchildren the opportunity, not just to plant a tree in their school grounds, but to learn about the importance of trees to the environment.

The five Tulip Trees planted have creamy white and yellow flowers, like tulips, in June. The trees also a generous canopy of leaves to cast shade on the playground.

A hexagonal recycled plastic bench around the tree provides the perfect place for children to read about trees.

For further details on the Birmingham Civic Society's Plant a Tree for Life campaign logon to the website at www.btfl.org.uk or email BusinessBTFL@gmail.com to pledge support.