Tree planting projects
As part of our Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan, we are seeking to partner with local landowners in the borough to conduct tree planting projects. As large-scale planting opportunities within our estate are limited, partnering with landowners to plant more trees in the borough is a critical element to increasing our woodland cover.
This is a powerful solution to combating climate change and mitigating increasing global temperatures. Tree planting comes with numerous side benefits, including encouraging biodiversity, improving air quality, combating runoff and erosion, improving water retention, reducing heat island effects, and aiding natural flood management. Trees and green spaces also have a significant positive impact on our physical and mental wellbeing.
Our approach is ‘the right trees in the right place’. Subsequently, our tree planting offers landowners the opportunity to plant native species on their land, these being predominantly ‘whip’ or ‘bare root’ in size. These small trees tend to be more resilient, hardy and have greater success rates than transplanting larger, more established trees.
Suitability
Examples of suitable land include:
- low-yield agricultural land seeking different land usage
- agricultural land seeking dual usage or agroforestry diversification
- agricultural field verges
- local wildlife sites, special areas of conservation, hedgerows
- disused land
- open soil land
- local nature reserves (without disturbing the ecological balance)
- existing woodland (without disturbing the ecological balance)
- golf courses
- hospital grounds
- industrial estates
- shops and office car parks
- playing fields
- development sites
- green belt areas
- flood risk-prone areas
We must ensure cost-effectiveness and the greatest positive impact from our investment in tree planting. Therefore, the following key eligibility criteria will be considered when receiving proposals for suitable land for tree planting:
- projects that favour large-scale planting of young trees, whippets and saplings will be prioritised
- we will need to ensure that tree planting is long-term, and that new trees will be maintained
- if there are public rights of way in the proposed land, the new trees will be adequately protected and safety to the public is considered
- priority will be given to proposals that match funds to be paid in proportion to funds available from the council
- land will not be considered if there are buildings, concrete and other large-scale obstacles to be removed
- larger areas of land for tree planting will be prioritised, for example those over 1 acre or half a hectare. Smaller areas will also be considered.
Applications
Accepted applications
If your expression of interest is accepted, you will be provided with trees free of charge. It will be your responsibility to ensure trees are planted properly, cared for, and maintained to ensure high success rates.
This initiative is to ensure the trees we plant will last a lifetime. Trees that we provide require a commitment that these cannot be removed for a period of at least 30 years.
For more information on how to plant your trees, you can visit the Gardeners' World website.
Declined applications
If your expression of interest is unsuited to our funding requirements, we would encourage you to pursue other projects, initiatives or funding opportunities. For example, the Woodland Trust MOREwoods or MOREhedges projects, or the government’s Woodland Carbon Guarantee scheme.
Should you have any questions please email the Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager.
Applications will be prioritised based on the following:
- extent and suitability of land available for tree planting
- converging benefits, such as flood prevention, enhancing ancient woodland, the creation of biodiversity corridors and linkages to other existing woodlands, protecting existing habitats or conservation areas
- cost effectiveness and potential extent of carbon sequestered
- landownership and permissions
- health and safety to the public and longevity of the trees