Greens Call for Major Boost in Council Funding for Trees
Nelson Green Party councillors have highlighted the loss of large forest trees and street trees in Norwich in a new report. Average tree canopy cover in Norwich is around 18.6% which is below the 20% minimum cover recommended for inland towns and cities by Forest Research, part of the Forestry Commission. Four wards in Norwich, Catton Grove, Mancroft, Nelson and Sewell have less than 14% tree canopy cover.
Councillor Denise Carlo said,
‘To address the twin emergencies of climate change and biodiversity loss, the Councils must commit to developing an ongoing major tree planting and maintenance programme , with annual tree planting targets aimed at creating a new arboreal legacy for Norwich for the next one hundred years’
Councillor Paul Neale added,
‘Norfolk County Council’s core tree planting budget for highways land in Norwich is miniscule. The 2022/23 allocation of £20,000 for the whole city has paid for just 49 trees which amounts to less than a one per cent replacement rate. As this level of funding, we will lose the city’s street trees apart from those in conservation areas. Norwich City Council’s annual tree planting budget funds fewer than 100 heavy standard trees. Both the County and City Councils need to radically increase their tree planting and maintenance budgets.’
The full report can be seen here
