FEWER TREES IN NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE IN BRITAIN

 

Bradley Woods is enchanting - but there needs to be more trees in urban settings 

A WARD in Cleethorpes has fewer trees growing in it than almost anywhere in Britain.

Sidney Sussex has just 2 per cent tree cover according to a new report.

Overall in the borough, tree canopy coverage is a lamentable 10.5 per cent compared with the national average of 15.8 per cent.

But Britain lags way, way behind the rest of Europe where the EU average is 35 per cent.

It has long been established that trees are good for human health, both physical and mental, as well  enhancing the appearance of an area, soaking up carbon and providing habitat for songbirds and other wildlife. 

Two decades ago, the newly-formed  North East Lincolnshire Council, then under Labour control, recognised this.

It outlined a vision for a "Freshney Forest" with thousands of trees to be planted throughout the borough, including within urban settings.

But the project stalled since when trees have dropped off the NELC agenda and the Freshney Forest masterplan seems mysteriously to have disappeared from the files.

In spring, NELC was invited to bid for a Whitehall-backed Treescape Fund  aimed at establishing more trees in non-woodland settings such as  riverbanks, hedgerows, parklands, urban areas, beside roads and footpaths, in copses and shelterbelts, plus  neglected, disused and vacant community spaces. 

It was pointed out to the authority that trees in these settings are particularly valuable as they can provide the greatest levels of benefit to ecosystems and society, such as carbon absorption, flood protection and support for biodiversity, as well as connecting fragmented habitats.

It is not known whether the authority even took up the invitation.

Now, however, COP21 provided a loud, jangling wake-up call, and the administration has recognised that it needs to pull up its socks, roll up its sleeves - and get planting. Or, to put it more accurately, hope that someone else does the planting on its behalf.

A report to councillors states:  "Trees can provide significant heat reduction benefits through shading, make a significant contribution to carbon sequestration and storage, and reduce the impact of sudden rainfall. 

"For these reasons more tree planting, alongside the protection of our existing tree population will make a positive contribution to reaching net zero carbon emissions. 

"This enthusiasm must be backed up by sound advice on getting the right trees for the right locations and making sure that maintenance is considered, too."

But the document warns: "Public response to trees can be difficult to manage. Some dislike trees. 

"We need to promote the significant benefits that trees have on our society and enable a balanced view to be heard.

"We are in the early stages of developing a Tree Strategy. 

"This will provide a strategic framework for the management of the local tree population to achieve agreed aims and objectives. 

"Engaging with landowners will be the key to increasing canopy coverage and achieving net zero carbon. 

"We need to communicate grant incentive opportunities to landowners."

The Grimsby News says: NELC's approach to trees has long been woeful, and this new report gives no cause for confidence. Officerspeak such as "strategic framework" and "agreed aims and objectives" are almost  a guarantee of torpor. By the end of the month, the report will have been shelved and forgotten. We are now at the start of the tree-planting season. If the authority is committed to making the borough greener, why is sitting on its hands? Where is the drive and energy. It needs to take action now.  Get digging, chaps!