More planting of trees along urban areas and roads is taking place in Colchester thanks to the Local Authority Treescape Fund provided by the Forestry Commission to support tree planting outside of woodlands.
The 141 new street trees are being planted at several sites across the borough to replace those that have been lost in recent years. Twenty trees are to be planted at several locations along Cymbeline Way and a further 32 are being planted along several streets in New Town and Christ Church. Eighty-nine trees have already been planted in West Mersea.
All the trees are fitted with an irrigation kit made up of a weld-mesh tree guard designed to make them easier to water at times of drought and protect them from damage, a sturdy tree stake to hold them in place, and some bark mulch around the base to prevent weed growth.
The trees are a mix of native broadleaf species such as Field Maple, Hawthorn, Wild Cherry, Rowan, Wild Service Tree and Lime, and are being planted as part of the Colchester Woodland and Biodiversity Project.
The Local Authority Treescape Fund is grant funding from the Forestry Commission to support tree planting outside of woodlands. Essex County Council (ECC), in partnership with Colchester Borough Council, Epping Forest District Council and Harlow Council, successfully applied and secured £300,000 for the planting and maintenance of 5,595 trees across the county.
The planting is part of Essex County Council’s Essex Forestry Initiative, and the trees will be planted in various settings, such as riverside trees, trees in urban areas, infilling of old hedgerows and creation of wood pasture across the county. Planting trees in urban settings supports wildlife and habitat connectivity but it is also important to plant trees near to where people live for health and wellbeing benefits. ECC expects all trees under the fund to be planted by April 2022.
The fund targets areas with trees that have been neglected or suffered damage in the past, including disused and vacant community spaces and those affected by tree diseases.
Eighty standard trees were previously planted along the cycle path that runs through the Riverside Walk open space between Lower Castle Park and the East Bay Recreation Ground, and 40 trees were planted along the cycle path which runs through the Bergholt Road open space between the allotment site and the North Station car park.
Cllr Simon Crow, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability said: “It’s great to see even more street trees being planted across the borough as part of the Local Authority Treescape Fund. There are many benefits to planting in areas outside of woodlands, including continuing to offset carbon emissions that are contributing to ongoing climate change.”
To find out more about the Colchester Woodland and Biodiversity Project visit www.colchester.gov.uk/better-colchester/colchesterwoodlandbiodiversity
Pictured above: Cllr Simon Crow at a street tree planting site on St Andrews Avenue.
Page last reviewed: 4 March 2022