Agenda item

Report of the Director: Business and Development

The Director: Business Development submitted a report updating Cabinet on progress towards tree planting targets in North Lincolnshire and outlining future approaches to the Northern Forest and other tree planting initiatives. The Northern Forest was the government’s 25-year vision to plant 50 million trees across the North of England, stretching from Liverpool to Hull. This was set out in the 25-year Environment Plan with an allocation of £5.7 million of government funding.

The Director in her report explained that (alongside and as part of the Northern Forest) the Council had set a target to plant a further 172,000 trees: one for each resident and had identified six main approaches to maintaining and increasing tree cover in North Lincolnshire:

1.  Urban Areas- identifying and planting on suitable Council and partners’ land

2.  Urban Areas- identifying and planting suitable locations for street trees

3. Rural (& some Urban) Areas- Targeting tree planting according to the Biodiversity Opportunity Map:

4.  Green Infrastructure/Ecosystem Service standards for new development:

5.  Tree Protection and Replacement

6. Natural regeneration and natural habitat change allowing native trees to spread naturally, creating scrub and new woodland.

The report stated that the council in 2020 carried out an OJEU procurement to tender for a call-off framework arrangement with a single provider over 4 years. The provider delivered tree ordering, volunteer recruitment, tree planting, aftercare and the coordination and leadership of volunteers and community groups. The successful bidder was TCV (The Conservation Volunteers). In the 2020/21 planting season, the council had planted around 25,600 trees on Council-owned land. Details of the sites were set out in Appendix 1.  At the same time, it launched a tree counter and tree planting map website, allowing partners, businesses, landowners and members of the public to record the trees that they had planted. By the end of the season, the tree counter was at over 61,400 trees. Significant contributions were highlighted in the report.

For the 2021/22 planting season focus had shifted to working with the Woodland Trust to plant trees on sites put forward by private landowners and town and parish councils. North Lincolnshire Council had also joined with other local authorities, with support from the Community Forests, to make a bid to the Urban Tree Challenge Fund for standard trees in urban areas. These were large trees at the time of planting that would make a significant impact in the street scene. If successful, 233 standard trees would be planted over the next two years. Further details of the main projects planned for 2021/22 are set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

The Director also stated that recently the council had launched its landowner leaflet, providing guidance and offering support to those seeking to plant trees. The leaflet had been distributed thanks to help from the National Farmers Union (NFU) and had been promoted through the council’s website. Looking to future planting seasons, the council would continue to develop and deliver a pipeline of tree planting projects, working with landowners, businesses community groups and our partners in HEYWoods, the Woodland Trust, the Forestry Commission and TCV. It would also continue to protect existing trees and woodlands and promote a high standard of new landscaping, street tree provision and green infrastructure, through the Local Plan, Development Control and Biodiversity Net Gain.

Resolved – (a) That the report be noted, and that Cabinet supports the continued delivery of priority actions as set out in the Director’s report, and (b) that consultation with local communities continue to be carried out prior to tree planting initiatives being progressed.