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Gloucestershire on track with million trees target

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Gloucestershire County Council has moved another step closer towards its goal of planting one million trees by 2030, increasing the current county total planted under its scheme to just shy of 400,000.
Trees planted near Bournside School in Cheltenham

The most recent season's figures include over 100,000 trees planted across 250 different projects right across Gloucestershire. These trees were planted by the county council with the support of partners and volunteers. Among the projects were partnerships with parish and town councils, district councils, private estates and many individual landowners. 

The million trees project is part of the county council's wider commitment to tackling climate change and delivering a Greener Gloucestershire.

The county council helps to ensure the survival of new and existing trees by providing advice to landowners on how best to care for trees particularly when they’re first planted or when the weather is drier.  

There are also innovative projects that support biodiversity even further – for example, on land adjacent to Bournside School in Cheltenham where a disused railway has been converted into a wildlife corridor. This was done by retaining existing hedgerow, mature trees and planting 2,500 new trees during the 2022-23 planting season. Now in its second year the flora and fauna are thriving.  

Cllr David Gray, cabinet member for environment and planning, said: “We want to thank everyone who has worked with us to help our efforts to achieve our ambitious target. We couldn’t make this level of progress without the ongoing support of so many right across Gloucestershire.

“I’ve recently revisited many of the sites planted over the last three years in the county and I’m delighted to see our efforts paying of with the trees thriving - it's good for the soul to see so much growth. This project will have a lasting, positive impact on our environment, one everyone in Gloucestershire can be proud of. We are really starting to see the wood for the trees.”

Gloucestershire County Council is currently planning projects for the 2024-25 planting season, which starts in November and runs through to March, and is inviting anyone who would like to take part to get in touch. Whether its envisioning woodlands that provide habitat and tranquillity, orchards bursting with fruit or lush hedgerows that create natural boundaries and wildlife corridors like Bournside we can offer support. If you have a possible planting project, you can submit your expression of interest here.