2,500 trees to be planted in ‘clean-air’ drive
MORE than 2,500 trees are to be planted across Greater Manchester this spring after the region landed funding from the government’s £10m Urban Tree Challenge Fund.
The vast majority of the trees will be planted by March this year with locations including Ordsall Park in Salford and Stretford Meadows in Trafford.
In total more than 2,500 trees will be planted across the city-region, including 650 small sapling trees and crucially just over 1,900 large, high impact trees.
A total of £1.5m is being spent locally on the planting. Funding was secured by the Salford-based City Of Trees charity bidding with 10 local councils and housing providers.
The larger trees will be over two metres in height and will take root in parks and green spaces across the region including Queen’s Park in Bolton, St Mary’s Park in Bury, Wythenshawe Park in Manchester and Denehurst Park in Rochdale.
They will also be planted in grass verges by roadsides and in residential areas across Bolton, Salford, Stockport, Trafford, Manchester, Tameside and Oldham.
Last year charity City of Trees undertook the largest physical i-Tree survey of trees outside the United States to better understand the extent, function, and value of Greater Manchester’s urban forest.
The ‘All Our Trees’ survey found that Greater Manchester’s 11million-plus trees lock up 56,530 tonnes of carbon and produce 122,450 tonnes of oxygen each year.
The data from ‘All Our Trees’ was used to provide justification for the need for tree planting – especially large trees which deliver greater benefits.
The survey will be published in March and also includes recommendations for managing woodlands to boost biodiversity and create homes for wildlife – especially species in serious decline.
Coun Andrew Western, Green City region lead for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), said: “Planting more trees – especially in urban areas – is vital to the health and wealth of the city-region.
“This significant funding helps us to deliver on our commitments within our 5 Year Environment Plan to secure a green, clean city-region.”
Jess Thompson, director at City of Trees said: “This is terrific news for Greater Manchester and the first time we have secured funding at this scale for large urban trees.”
Ian Gambles, chief executive officer of the Forestry Commission said: “These trees will benefit the people of Greater Manchester for years to come, improving the physical and mental health of all – including those in deprived areas.
“Trees in urban areas also help to reduce noise and air pollution and combat the effects of climate change.”
The new trees will form part of the Northern Forest, an ambitious initiative to plant 50 million trees, stretching from Liverpool to Hull, within 25 years.