Tree warden scheme to be strengthened as part of new tree strategy
A network of volunteer tree wardens is to be strengthened as part of an updated tree strategy for St Albans District.
The wardens play a vital role in protecting trees around the District by watering, planting and carrying out other tasks.
Now St Albans City and District Council is to recruit more volunteers and enlist the help of a community group to organise their efforts.
The initiative is one of a series of actions that underpin a new tree strategy for the five years to 2029.
Councillors on the Planning Policy and Climate Committee agreed to adopt the strategy and an action plan at a recent meeting.
The strategy covers trees on the Council’s parks, open spaces and other land.
It is in keeping with a commitment to tackle the climate emergency as trees are vital in improving the environment.
They keep the atmosphere rich in oxygen, filter pollutants from the air and provide shade during hot spells.
The strategy will also be linked to the new Local Plan (LP), a blueprint for the future growth and development of the District.
Work to produce the LP is underway with a public consultation on an amended draft due to be held later this year.
Councillor Raj Visram, the Committee’s Vice Chair and Lead for Trees, said:
Our new tree strategy, combined with the list of actions we intend to take, provides a road map for our future tree management.
I urge anyone with a keen interest in the local environment to look at our exciting plans to create a better treescape.
The strategy offers residents a chance to get involved as we will be looking to recruit more tree wardens. They are community heroes as the voluntary work they do enhances their neighbourhoods and we want to expand the scheme in the years ahead.
As a Council, one of our ambitious goals is to turn the District carbon neutral by 2030 and improving the treescape is a move in that direction.
Among many other actions, the Council will replace every tree that must be removed to ensure public safety or for other sound reasons.
The public will be better informed about tree felling work with notices to be put up beforehand to include a QR code that will link to explanatory pages on the Council’s website.
Ancient and veteran trees on Council land will be logged in an inventory and protected as special historical, wildlife and landscape features.
Your Tree Our Future
In a separate initiative, the third annual Your Tree Our Future scheme has been a major success.
The Council, in partnership with HCC, gave residents the chance to claim up to five free trees or hedgerow packs for planting in gardens and privately-owned open spaces.
All the 11,000 trees on offer were snapped up within days of the 2024 scheme launch.
Cllr Visram said:
The response to the Your Tree Our Future campaign was extraordinary. It means that over the last three years we have given away 27,000 trees for planting around the District – a phenomenal total.
Further information
The tree strategy can be viewed here and the action plan can be viewed here.
Anyone interested in becoming a tree warden or any community group that would like to become involved should email treewardens@stalbans.gov.uk.
The Planning Policy and Climate Committee was held on Tuesday 25 June.
Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.