New strategy maps safer future for borough's greenery

A long-term plan to ensure trees and other greenery in Wokingham Borough is better cared for, and new vegetation planted, has been approved to benefit both wildlife and local residents.

The council’s decision-making executive agreed a new Tree Strategy, which was drafted with input from experts and the wider community, at a meeting yesterday (29 June).

This document outlines how all kinds of trees are managed and maintained, how the public can help protect trees with historic or community value, and developers' duties towards planting.

The council already has policies on how trees are maintained and inspected, but this brings them together and makes the process clearer to ensure the borough’s natural space is well cared for.

Keeping everyone on the same page

The strategy explains how trees can be nominated for protected status, or how the council should act when protected trees are threatened by disease or breach of a preservation order.

Additionally, surveys have been carried out to give officials a clear understanding of the number, quality and value of trees both on council land and everywhere else.

These show the borough’s trees absorb more than 12 kilotons of carbon a year - the amount produced driving almost 30 million miles in a typical car, which would cost £3 million to offset.

About 22 per cent of the borough’s surface is tree cover compared with the national average of 16 per cent. This absorbs the equivalent of 394 Olympic swimming pools in rainwater run-off per year, saving water companies more than £1.5 million.

A shared vision to benefit the community

The strategy covers trees of all ages along with hedgerows, orchards and woodlands. It began taking shape in 2021 and was consulted on in November 2022.

Although there’s no legal requirement to produce it, it’s strongly encouraged by bodies like the Woodland Trust as time in nature has proven physical and mental health benefits. Trees and woodland provide a habitat for many species, so the council is pleased to go the extra mile.

Cllr Ian Shenton, executive member for environment, sport and leisure, said: "We've always been committed to protecting trees as they have immeasurable benefit to both the local environment and our residents’ quality of life. This strategy will help us honour that commitment more effectively.

"It was guided by experts, both within and outside the council, and we'd also like to thank those residents who took time to help us ensure it reflects what they want.”

Ambitious but achievable environmental goals

The strategy sets goals to meet within the next decade, including reaching the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' Tree City of the World standards.

These support the council's ongoing drive to increase planting on public and private land, which has seen more than 40,000 trees planted since November 2021 with more still to come. This will help address the climate emergency by offsetting carbon emissions while improving air quality, providing wildlife habitats and reducing local flood risks.

Some programmes get Government funding while the Garden Forest Scheme, which saw more than 4,000 free trees given away for planting, was supported by £300,000 from the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund.

Looking at the bigger picture

The council has pledged to do all it can to make Wokingham Borough a net-zero carbon producer by 2030 and has published a climate emergency action plan to achieve this.

It also has numerous initiatives to reduce air pollution, including the introduction of air quality management areas in known “hot spots”.

See our website for more about trees and their maintenance in Wokingham Borough.