Content

 
Resolved that Place and Environment
Scrutiny Committee:
 

(i)           
Notes the positive impact of the council’s tree
planting programmes to date and the steps towards increasing canopy
cover through funded activities;

(ii)          
The tree strategy, with the inclusion of community
involvement with parish and town councils, be recommended for
adoption by the Executive. 
 
 
 
considered as part of budget setting to fund approximately
600-700 trees which are required to achieve the 6.45% increase in
canopy cover alongside the care and maintenance of existing canopy
and engagement with private landowners and residents to maximise
planting opportunities.
 
Biosecurity plays a
key role in the protection of existing canopy and future planting
programs. The TPS seeks to formally recognise the Plant Passport
System for any imported specimens, only working with suppliers who
are registered through the Plant Health Portal. A UK plant passport
is an official document which is needed to move plants and certain
regulated wood within Great Britain, to the Isle of Man or to the
Channel Islands. Any imported specimens will also require EU Plant
Passports, which are mandatory to identify the origins of plants
and plant products, ensuring traceability and compliance with plant
health regulations. The Plant Health Portal provides an online hub
for plant health information, data and resources, ensuring
suppliers adhere to plant health criteria.
 
Aftercare and
recording of tree data is crucial to quantifying, monitoring and
ensuring sustainability of the tree stock. Adequate resources are
required to ensure that all existing and new tree planting is
catalogued, and records are updated at regular intervals using
web-based reporting systems, such as the existing system
(Arbortrack), to provide data and accurate records of
inspections, recommendations for maintenance and health of
trees.
 
Tree canopy
increase can be achieved through various methods. The Council will
need to agree on, and enact, a tree planting hierarchy which will
govern the various approaches taken. The 3 main approaches to be
considered are Standard Planting, Woodland and Whip Planting and
Natural Regeneration.
 

Standard Planting
 
This method seeks to plant standard sized trees which are
those being 8-10 inches in diameter, approximately 6-10 years of
age. This has been the preferred planting method for impactful
planting upon Highways, Parks and Open Spaces and other areas of
high footfall. This method carries an element of risk from the
changing environmental conditions in particular drought, with each
newly planted tree requiring an average of 50L of water each week
during Spring and Summer for the first 3 years after
planting.

Woodland Planting and Whips
 
This method utilises recognised techniques in conjunction
with forestry partners and woodland organisations, planting
understorey areas, woodland edges and other cleared land with
native bareroot whips. Canopy cover will take a significant number
of years to mature given the size of the initial specimens planted.
This method does offer extensive community involvement alongside
all the benefits of volunteering and fostered ownership of newly
planted areas, producing legacies with groups, individuals and
businesses.

Natural Regeneration
 
This method requires little intervention from the Council
once sites are identified beyond ensuring little to no maintenance
takes place within defined areas beyond emergency works to mitigate
risk. Areas are to be identified in conjunction with relevant
Council departments, private landowners and other stakeholders.
Dominant species of naturally self-set trees will out
compete
weaker specimens and
establish canopy within regeneration areas, creating pockets of
canopy cover outside of existing woodlands. The risk of monoculture
within these areas may be mitigated through early intervention and
selection of species to be planted early in the site selection
process, coppicing, clearance and adherence to the principals of
woodland management.
6.
The next steps include engagement and further
consultation, which is currently taking place with Council
departments and services which manage trees upon Council land
(Highways, Housing, Planning etc.)
 
The TPS (Appendix
A) details the objectives and principles for consideration. The
Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider and feedback on the
strategy content prior to it being considered by the
Executive.