Issue - meetings

(i)              That Phase 7 of the Borough Tree Planting Strategy be approved for immediate implementation, subject to the final consultation responses, and the Service Director – Neighbourhood Delivery is authorised to seek and accept quotations for the work.

(ii)             That the Service Director – Neighbourhood Delivery be authorised to bid for and accept external grant funding and secure community donations to contribute to the delivery of the Borough Tree Planting Strategy and other related projects.

(iii)           That the new planting sites be designated as Carbon Capture Areas in the Open Space Strategy.

(iv)           That the progress made with the Field in Trust applications for the selected sites, be noted.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment introduced a report seeking Cabinet approval to progress Phase 7 of the Borough Tree Planting Strategy.

The first 6 phases had been delivered over the last 5 years with over 24,000 having been planted over 37 sites.   Phase 7 was now being planned and community groups had planted more than 9000 trees included in the Britain in Bloom plant a tree scheme.  Therefore, in total 34,065 had been planted to date.

The sites that had been chosen for Phase 7 were shown in the table at paragraph 2.3 of the report and the varieties would include Silver Birch, Hazel, Beech and Wild Cherry.

Members would continue to be invited to put forward a list of sites within their areas in Borough Council ownership , for future planting.

In May, 2025, Cabinet approved a schedule of approximately 80 sites to be classified as ‘Fields in Trust’ which protected them from future development.  A further 17 sites had been applied for since with 5 sites currently being finalised for submission.

The Leader stated that the tree planting was securing long term environmental recreational impacts.  In addition, there was the environmental benefit and carbon reduction as part of the Council’s Sustainable Environment Strategy.   

Resolved:    (i)       That Phase 7 of the Borough Tree Planting Strategy be

approved for immediate implementation, subject to the final consultation responses, and the Service Director – Neighbourhood Delivery is authorised to seek and accept quotations for the work.

(ii)             That the Service Director – Neighbourhood Delivery be authorised to bid for and accept external grant funding and secure community donations to contribute to the delivery of the Borough Tree Planting Strategy and other related projects.

(iii)           That the new planting sites be designated as Carbon Capture Areas in the Open Space Strategy.

(iv)            That the progress made with the Field in Trust applications

for the selected sites, be noted.

Watch the debate here