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In the last couple of years, the council has planted 30,000 young trees across the area as part of its commitment to rewilding and tackling the climate emergency.
The new trees will contribute to the council's wider aim, as set out in its Green Infrastructure Strategy, to increase canopy cover across the area to help mitigate the effects of climate change. This will also address some of the expected tree loss due to Ash Dieback disease.
The funding will support the creation of two new roles – Wildlife and Woodland Expansion Officers – dedicated to increasing tree planting capacity. Once in post, the new team will help the council to deliver the planting of:
- 20,000 new trees on public land,
- 10,000 additional trees to aid natural flood management, and
- 1,000 additional new trees alongside urban roads.
In addition, the team will work with private landowners to encourage them to plant trees on land they own. The council estimates that an additional 40-60 hectares of woodland could be planted on private land alone.
The Defra fund is designed to provide financial support to accelerate the delivery of tree planting and woodland creation commitments.
Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member for neighbourhoods and community services, said: “We’re working hard to address the climate and nature emergency. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the officers involved in securing this funding, which provides us with an opportunity to significantly boost our tree planting programme and expand on the success of our rewilding programme. This is key to delivering our ambitious Green Infrastructure Strategy.
“An important part of this will be the work we do with help from private landowners. This will be at locations we’ve highlighted where tree planting would improve quality of life, woodland connectivity, and flood risk alleviation. Our two new officers will be out talking to people from the summer and I urge anyone approached to do all they can to work with us on this.”
Councillor Bridget Petty, executive member responsible for climate emergency, said: “Tackling the climate and ecological emergencies is a key priority for the council. It’s vital not just in the longterm, but also important in the health, wellbeing and safety of our residents in the short term.
“Increasing the number of trees planted across North Somerset will help to make the area more resilient by purifying air, cooling our towns, combatting flooding, and all while enhancing the wellbeing of our residents and visitors.
“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure dedicated funds to help us make North Somerset greener and healthier. This is a real step forward in our ongoing work to tackle the climate emergency.”
James Fry, Forestry Commission South West Director, said: “Trees make our local areas healthier and more pleasant places to be, helping to moderate temperatures, reduce pollution, decrease flood risk and improve people’s quality of life.
“Local Authorities, such as North Somerset Council, are uniquely placed to deliver the Government’s tree planting ambitions and we are proud to provide funding to support the trees the council will plant.”
To read more about the council’s strategy for tackling the climate emergency, visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/climatechange. More information about the council’s Green Infrastructure Strategy can be found on its website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/greeninfrastructurestrategy.