Please tell me whether the council has undertaken any tree planting schemes as part of its work to tackle climate change and/or help reach net zero or improve air quality.
Devon County Council’s Carbon Reduction Plan [see: Carbon reduction plan – Environment (devon.gov.uk)] proposes the acquisition of land specifically for the purpose of tree planting in order to sequester carbon as part of the phased commitment to offset remaining, unavoidable, carbon emissions. To this end, 11 hectares of land were successfully purchased for this purpose in late 2021. Plans are being prepared and the required permissions sought to enable this planting to be undertaken over the coming two year period, which is anticipated to involve the planting of approximately 22,000 native, broadleaved, tree and shrub species. This represents the Authority’s first significant tree planting project with the dedicated objective of tackling climate change and achieving its net zero carbon target.
How many trees were planted / How much the scheme cost / How many trees are still surviving?
No tree planting has yet been undertaken at this site, with this planned for late this winter. No estimate of costs will be possible until the plans and required procurement activity are complete. It will be necessary for Devon County Council to ensure compliance with the tree survival rate condition which will be linked to the grant-aid being sought to support this project.
Beyond this specific approach, the authority is currently undertaking a programme of tree planting supported by the Woodland Trust through its Emergency Tree Fund, one of the objectives of which is to address climate change. Although this involves some tree planting undertaken directly by Devon County Council, the majority of the tree planting is arranged through other local authorities and through town/parish councils and through the distribution of free tree packs provided to private land owners. The overall budget for this work over a three year period is £280,906. A condition of this Woodland Trust grant aid is an expected tree survival rate of 85%.
The Devon County Council web site provides all available information about tree planting projects undertaken or supported by the authority, including through the Emergency Tree Fund: Trees, hedges and woodland – Environment (devon.gov.uk).