Climate change group is on lookout for more supporters

A social media group has been set up to encourage more tree planting across Carmarthenshire to help in the fight against climate change.

Trees for Carmarthen has launched on Facebook and organisers are calling on landowners in the town, along with Carmarthenshire as a whole, to come forward if they have parcels of land available for tree planting schemes.

The group has also contacted Carmarthenshire Council to see if the authority can play a part.

Last year, the authority became the first local authority in Wales to publish a climate change action plan detailing how it will work towards becoming net zero carbon in the next 10 years.

Efforts to reduce and offset carbon emissions are already making a positive contribution to the climate change agenda, but more is to come with focus on key areas as the council rises to the challenge. Among the areas in Carmarthen itself campaigners could plant more trees is the reservoir in Tanerdy.

A statement by Trees for Carmarthen said: “We want landowners to come forward and message the Facebook page if they’re interested in helping to fight the climate emergency, and we need more trees to do this because it’s not possible with only the small minority.

“Climate change is real and it seems nobody is interested in helping. So we are on the lookout for landowners and volunteers in the Carmarthen and wider county to help this climate emergency.”

Ca rma r t h e n s h i re Council said it welcomed the initiative.

Executive board member for environment, Cllr Hazel Evans said: “We are committed to tree and woodland planting as they have many benefits including reducing air and noise pollution, combating climate change and providing excellent habitats for wildlife.

“They also compensate for the impact of the loss of trees through natural ageing. We welcome any initiatives that can help promote these benefits and how they can be properly managed and maintained in the long term.”