East Suffolk Council is committed to enabling 250,000 new native trees and hedgerow to be established in the district over the next several years, following the July 2024 Full Council meeting where the commitment to this was made. We are currently in the process of producing an East Suffolk Tree and Hedgerow Strategy to deliver against this ambitious target, and to support the establishment of the right trees in the right places, for the right reasons.
We will be taking an enabling role by principally providing helpful advice and grant application support services to the district’s landowners, farmers, schools, and community organisations to sustainably plant or naturally regenerate trees on their land.
We are already actively establishing trees on our land on suitable sites, and intend to increase our annual planting and natural regeneration rate.
The strategy is expected to go out to public consultation in spring 2026, and be adopted in summer 2026. We are expecting to run a formal ‘Call for Planting Sites’ shortly after adoption so that planting schemes for winter 2026/27 can be supported in getting underway.
To see tree planting reports received to date, please see our Environmental Impact Strategic KPI dashboard, where reports of tree planting in the district since July 2024 is being mapped by parish.
If you would like to report trees that you or your organisation have planted or that have established through natural regeneration since July 2024, please complete the relevant form:
The strategy is expected to be adopted in summer 2026. If you have any questions, please contact the project team by email at esctreestrategy@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.