Council in pledge to safeguard North East Lincolnshire's precious trees - and plant a few more

                                                            

NORTH East Lincolnshire Council's cabinet has this week pledged not only to safeguard the borough's trees but also to increase the number which is currently well below the UK average.

At its meeting on  Wednesday, members rubberstamped the authority's first Tree Strategy.

A report states:  "The benefits of trees have long been acknowledged. 

"Trees provide one of the most cost-effective ways to improve the environmental quality of an area, delivering physical, social, health and economic well-being as well as mitigating climate change, improving storm water management, air quality, biodiversity and visual amenity.

"We must work with all our partners to ensure that our tree canopy cover is not only maintained but increased to a level which allows us to mitigate the effects of climate change."

When the council conducted a consultation exercise with residents in August and September 2021,  97 per cent of the respondents wanted to see tree cover increased.

There is currently a UK national average of 15.8 per cent for canopy cover within our towns and cities, but in North East Lincolnshire, it is just 10.5 per cent.

The report continues: "A North East Lincolnshire Tree Strategy will demonstrate its commitment to caring for the trees under its management and increasing the number of trees in public places. 

"It will be used as best practice to influence private landowners to look after their trees and encourage planting on their land and will set out the right approach to tree canopy aspirations for the borough.

"Our future approach will take the following direction: 

* Understand our tree population, through surveys and record-keeping so that we have a good base of evidence for making improvements and tracking changes. 

* Set targets for increasing canopy cover, and work towards achieving this whilst assuring that we get the right trees in the right places. 

* Establish guidance for tree planting, which can be used both by the council and by those planting trees on their own land. This guidance will take into account the need for species diversity and the need to plan for future climate changes. Particular focus will be given to how we can successfully plant trees in hard landscapes. 

* Support the development of community woodlands and work towards sustainable and successful implementation of these projects. 

* Engage with our community on aspects of tree planting and management to achieve buy-in and active collaboration. 

"The council will use its powers to prevent unnecessary damage to trees within all construction/development."

The report adds: "The council will seek compensation from any external organisation responsible for significant damage to or removal of any council-owned tree(s)."