Decision

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.