New plan aims to ensure Lancashire's woodlands meet their full potential

At the next Lancashire County Council Cabinet meeting on Thursday, December 7, Councillors will hear about the new Tree Management Plan, which will allow the council to better manage the trees across their whole estate and produce plans for their future maintenance.

The plan will also see trees that have reached the end of their natural lives and are structurally unsafe, replaced with new saplings. Trees that have to be removed from highway verges would be replaced, in the same or a new location, depending on what is most suitable. This would replace the previous policy, which prevented new or replacement tree planting.

Councillor Shaun Turner, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for Environment and Planning said: "This new plan will allow us to care for Lancashire's trees in the best way possible.

"Our trees are absolutely vital for the environment, as they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and then lock it up for centuries.

"It is really important that we take care of the trees that we also have, but also take every opportunity that is available to us to plant more. We want to ensure that the trees and woodlands are safe and resilient to change, for the communities of Lancashire to enjoy.

"Lancashire County Council is responsible for maintaining approximately 7,000km of vehicular highway, much of which has trees growing along it. Now, every time that we lose a diseased tree, we can replace it in an appropriate place and help the environment.

"It is just one extra step in ensuring that our trees and woodlands meet their full potential in terms of biodiversity, habitat provision, and recreation.

"The plan sets out a commitment that each of the council's woodlands will benefit from the creation of a bespoke management plan."

Find out more at Council - Agenda for Cabinet on Thursday, 7th December, 2023, 2.00 pm (lancashire.gov.uk)