East Suffolk Council
New strategy to encourage tree planting across East Suffolk
A new focus on increased tree planting across East Suffolk has been agreed to improve biodiversity and help tackle the climate crisis.
A motion resolving to boost tree planting, proposed by Cllr Sally Noble, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for the Environment, was passed at a Full Council meeting on Wednesday 24 July.
It was agreed that the Council would develop a Tree and Hedgerow Strategy, seeking input from residents, community groups, and experts to identify key priorities and requirements for tree and hedgerow planting and management of existing trees across the district.
Currently, forests cover just 12% of land in the UK, whereas Europe’s total land area has forest cover comprising 47%. The Tree and Hedgerow Strategy would aim to enable 250,000 trees to be planted across East Suffolk, increasing canopy cover by 1%.
Landowners play the key role in protecting and planting trees and will be invited to suggest spaces suitable for tree planting. Ongoing work to map the tree canopy in East Suffolk will be completed, creating a map of council-owned land where there are opportunities for tree planting and feeding-in to Suffolk’s developing ‘Local Nature Recovery Strategy’.
Cllr Noble said:
“Trees are vital for protecting our environment, removing carbon dioxide and pollutants from the air, reducing flooding, and providing essential wildlife habitats. Protecting existing trees and planting new trees is crucial in tackling the climate, biodiversity and ecological emergencies already declared by the Council. The Council already has a good record of tree planting initiatives, and we now want to really enhance these efforts and aim to plant thousands more trees across the district.”
The Council will also commit more resources to supporting the work of town and parish councils, as well as local tree wardens and community volunteers, who all perform a fundamental role in protecting and managing new and existing trees. Working with Suffolk County Council, East Suffolk Council will also promote the importance and value of street trees.