Council celebrates major tree planting milestone

Cheshire West and Chester Council joined with partner, The Mersey Forest, to celebrate reaching a major milestone of the national Trees for Climate programme - the planting of 10 million trees across England in just six years.

The Council is the accountable body for the multi-million pound programme which is being delivered by 15 Community Forests across England.

The landmark figure highlights the scale and pace of tree planting delivered by the network since Trees for Climate began in 2020.

Launched to accelerate tree planting in areas of greatest need, Trees for Climate has increased woodland and tree cover in towns, cities and rural areas – helping capture carbon, retore nature, reduce flood risk and improve health and wellbeing, whilst supporting local economies. As the trees grow, they will provide shade, cleaner air, and accessible greenspace for communities to enjoy.

To mark the achievement, a ceremonial 10 millionth tree has been planted in each of the 15 Community Forests, acknowledging just how vital local communities have been to the success of the programme.

In West Cheshire a Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) has been planted in Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port in the heart of the community. Weekly Healthy Conservation and Community Gardening sessions take place in the park as part of The Mersey Forest’s Natural Health Service, playing an important role alongside the Council’s Parks Team to maintain the site and enhance biodiversity at this popular local greenspace.

Across Cheshire West, over 300,000 trees have been planted across the borough since the start of the Trees for Climate programme with over 300 ha of woodland created.

Cllr Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of the Council, said:

“It is fitting that we’ve planted this ceremonial tree in one of the Council’s parks to mark the success of the Trees for Climate programme over the last six years. Over 160ha have been planted on Council owned land over the last year alone, with another 150 hectares planned for next winter. Thanks to the programme we’ve been able to create greener communities, boost biodiversity and connect even more people with nature. Thank you to all the communities, landowners, farmers, volunteers and partners who have made this programme a success, both locally and nationwide.”

The success of Trees for Climate – delivered in partnership with local authorities, landowners, farmers, charities, community groups and volunteers – comes at a critical time for tree-planting across the country. The UK Government has committed to significant enhancements in woodland creation, including increasing tree and woodland cover. 

The Council will continue to act as the accountable body for the next phase of Trees for Climate which will see England’s Community Forests working alongside national partners to bring together complementary expertise, networks and landholdings, helping scale up delivery and maximise long-term impact. 

By combining local, place-based delivery with national reach, the partnership will support the creation of more resilient woodlands and trees in the landscapes and communities where they are most needed. 

Any landowners who are interested in introducing more trees on their land can find out about the free support and funding opportunities by visiting: merseyforest.org.uk/landowners

Pictured - Cllr Christine Warner and Cllr Karen Shore planting a Dawn Redwood tree at Whitby Park.