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Hundreds of new trees to be planted in Felixstowe
Hundreds of new trees to be planted in Felixstowe
Hundreds of trees are set to be planted in Felixstowe as part of a biodiversity boosting initiative.
A total of 30 standard trees and 300 whips will take root beside the public car park in Golf Road in an effort to enhance the landscape and encourage natural regrowth for generations to come.
These trees are part of a Suffolk-wide programme which will see 7,526 trees planted across the county this winter, following a successful joint bid to the Government’s Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF) from Suffolk County Council, Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council and West Suffolk Council.
£138,219 will come into the county as one of 100 grants under the LATF, directly contributing to achieving the country’s ambitious tree planting targets. The funding is for the planting of the trees and three years’ maintenance.
The trees are to be planted in non-woodland areas, including those that have been neglected in the past, ecologically damaged or affected by tree diseases like ash dieback.
Beginning in the second week of January, grounds and countryside maintenance partners from East Suffolk Norse will focus planting in spaces between the mature maple trees to the front of the carpark – expanding the woodland to the northeast, with a temporary chestnut panel fence installed to protect the new whips.
The new trees will be a variety of species, mainly bearing fruits and berries edible to wildlife, and will be regularly watered and surveyed to monitor improvements in biodiversity.
The project will also serve as a pilot project for the development of a wider Tree Strategy for East Suffolk Council.
Cllr James Mallinder, East Suffolk Council cabinet member for the Environment, said: “For good reason, trees are sometimes referred to as the lungs of the earth. By converting carbon dioxide into clean air, they are literally helping the planet breathe.
“So, it is vitally important that we not only protect and maintain our existing woodland areas but try to reinforce and enhance it where possible.
“We’re blessed in this part of the country with a rich and diverse landscape – and I’m delighted that the LATF has allowed us to add to that for the future.”
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Environment, said: “This is the second year that we have been successful with this funding, a true testament to how Suffolk is committed to working together for a net zero future and reversing the decline in our biodiversity.
“The county council has been instrumental in securing new trees for Suffolk, itself planting 200,000 trees and 20 kilometres of hedgerow over just the last couple of years, along with the creation of healing woods.
“Establishing thousands of new trees in Suffolk is a team effort, and I’d like to thank colleagues at our borough and district councils for their commitment to making this happen. Of course, trees must be planted in the right places, and we cannot just leave them. It’s thanks to the extraordinary work of volunteers such as the Suffolk Tree Warden Network, that will help to make these programs a success.”
The LATF opened in 2021, as part of the government’s Nature for Climate Fund, to support the planting and maintenance of 260,000 trees outside existing woodlands.
More green spaces around Suffolk will support wildlife and offer the chance for people to get in touch with nature and support their health and wellbeing.
The planting schemes will continue to contribute to Suffolk’s commitment to support the Queen’s Green Canopy project.