800 hectares of tree coverage across the city over the next decade
Cardiff is to plant thousands of trees after receiving a £228,000 emergency tree fund.
The grant from the Woodland Trust will be used to plant 800 hectares of tree coverage across the city over the next decade, improving health and tackling the climate crisis.
It’s all part of One Cardiff, Cardiff Council’s vision for a carbon neutral city by 2030, and its ambition to increase urban tree cover from 19.9% to 25%.
The news comes as First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that two new areas of woodland would be created in Wales in memory of those who have died from coronavirus during the pandemic.
“Securing this funding from the Woodland Trust gives our plans for a greener Cardiff a real boost – it’s going to make a real difference as we continue to work towards our vision for a carbon neutral, One Planet Cardiff,” said Councillor Peter Bradbury, Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure.
Ahead of tree planting season in the autumn, Cardiff council is looking to roll out a huge tree planting programme, including plans for a tree nursery, which will secure a stock of locally grown, native trees on which to draw in future.
What type of trees and where exactly they will be planted has yet to be finalised.
In central Cardiff, the plans have already caught the public imagination.
“The environment’s massively popular. People want to know more but most of the time they’re either too busy to do something about it or don’t know what to do,” said Tristan Alexander Fareel, 33, a Grangetown resident.
“There’s plenty of awareness but I just don’t think people have the time to sit and properly read about it.”
“For the Woodland Trust to contribute that amount of money towards planting trees… I think it just makes people who live in Cardiff feel better about the city, makes the city better.”
In total, up to £3.4 million will be going to councils across the UK.
“I think everybody deep down wants to do something. I think if you think your council is interested it will make you care. I think there would be less littering if the place just looked greener and nicer. It’s just a good thing all round.”
In total, up to £3.4 million will be going to 11 councils across the UK from the Woodland Trust.
Natalie Buttriss, Director of Coed Cadw, said: “Whilst tree-planting alone is not a silver bullet for tackling climate change, we are pleased to be supporting Cardiff council in taking action to identify land for trees and to increase canopy cover across the city.”
