11,000 new trees planted across St Albans District over the last year
More than 11,000 new trees have been planted across St Albans District during the recent tree planting season.
St Albans City and District Council (SADC) has planted 3,608 trees at its open spaces as part of its commitment to improve the environment and cut harmful carbon emissions.
Among the areas that benefited from the programme were Jersey Farm, 1,477 trees planted, New Greens Avenue, 831, Camp Open Space, 750, and Nomansland, 350.
In addition, the Council has given away 7,646 trees to residents and community groups for planting in gardens and privately-owned open spaces.
The latter initiative was conducted in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council which provided some of the funding.
The 2022/23 tree planting season ran through the autumn and winter months with plans now being made for the next season.
SADC intends to ensure, subject to funding being obtained, that a further 10,000 trees are planted in 2023/24.
Around 7,000 trees will be given away again to residents and community groups while 3,000 trees will be planted on the Council’s own green spaces.
Trees help to combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen back into the air.
They prevent flooding and soil erosion and also provide a natural habitat as well as food for many species of wildlife.
In another initiative, the Council has also created new wildflower meadows across the District to improve biodiversity and provide bees, butterflies and other pollinators with food throughout the year.
More than 33,000m² of new meadows – the equivalent of about six football pitches – were provided over the last year with locations including Verulamium Park, Cunningham Fields, Derwent Road, Netherway and The Wick.
Chris Traill, the Council’s Strategic Director for Community and Place Delivery, said:
One of our priorities is to tackle the climate emergency and cut carbon emissions across the District to net zero by 2030.
Planting thousands of new trees is one of the many actions we are taking to achieve those ambitious goals.
It is a considerable achievement to have planted 11,000 new trees during the last planting season and we are aiming for a similar amount in 2023/24 as well, bringing the total to in excess of 20,000 in just two years.
We couldn’t do this without the support of our residents with thousands of them taking advantage of our great tree giveaway last year to plant free trees in their gardens or open spaces. I’m delighted to say that we are planning another tree giveaway and I’m sure it will be equally as successful.
Chris added:
There has been some adverse publicity recently about work to replace around 250 of the 30,000-plus highway trees that we look after on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council.
That is essential maintenance work which any local authority would have to do, balancing wildlife needs, the tree’s condition and public safety. The trees being replaced are dead, dying, significantly damaged or a safety risk.
Our formidable tree planting programmes show that we are totally committed to letting trees flourish throughout the District.
Picture: scene from the tree giveaway in December last year.
Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, 01727-819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.