Businesses, colleges, schools and local residents with at least half an acre of land available to plant trees in are invited to contact the Council’s Planting Our Future team.
The team is committed to planting 250,000 trees by 2030 to help achieve the council’s net zero ambitions and to date has planted 51,000 trees across the borough. But to make sure they reach the Council’s target, they need more landowners to step up and offer land for tree planting. The land could be the corner of a field or parkland, part of field boundary or a hedgerow it doesn’t matter. Half an acre is enough to support up to 500 trees which will make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 levels in the borough.
Sam White is the land agent for the Packington Estate. Over the last few years the Planting Our Future team has provided the Packington Estate with around 3,000 trees and this year they’ve provided the estate with a further 6,200 trees. Sam said: “The Packington Estate sits within what was the Forest of Arden and we take an active role in land management to assist in mitigating the impacts of climate change. By working with the Planting Our Future team we have been able to progress forward with improving areas of woodland across the Estate in accordance with our Woodland Management Plan and this includes working with the team in selecting suitable tree species.
“A challenge that the Estate faces, particularly this year, is assistance with planting trees! However, the Planting Our Future team are able to help as a result of their corporate contacts who wish to play a part in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Tree planting across the Estate assists with creating green corridors for wildlife and enhances biodiversity. Newly planted trees will be maintained by the Estate, and it is extremely rewarding to know that we are playing an active role in habitat creation.”
Leader of Solihull Council, Cllr Ian Courts, added: “Each tree planted breathes in carbon dioxide and breathes out oxygen making it the most cost effective way of cutting CO2 levels and combatting climate change. They are also a beautiful addition to our landscape and provide habitats for birds and other wildlife, encouraging and nurturing biodiversity within the borough. It’s such a simple thing to plant a tree but by planting trees on your land you really are planting our future. The team is happy to discuss the type of planting you plan to undertake and we will fund up to 100% of costs for the trees, including a site visit and tree planting assessment. My message is simple – help combat climate change by planting trees – every half an acre helps!”
To contact the Planting Our Future team visit - https://www.lovesolihull.org/plantingourfuture
Solihull was awarded ‘Tree City of the World’ status in recognition of its urban tree planting programme earlier this year. It is one of just 19 areas in the UK to have the international award.
The awards are given by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations with the intention of creating an international network of towns and cities dedicated to fostering the best urban forestry practices.