East Cambridgeshire District Council: Tree Strategy

• Purpose: Trees can deliver a multitude of benefits to local residents, from providing shade and shelter to creating a pleasant aesthetic. But trees can be taken for granted and sidelined in favour of other priorities. By creating a long term strategy, this council avoids that and maintains consistency in its plans for trees. The strategy seeks to protect the trees the council already has and to identify suitable areas for further tree planting. 

• Description: The tree strategy sets out the actions that need to be taken to achieve the council's tree-related aims and objectives across a ten year period (2018 to 2028). This will help ensure councillors protect trees, and maintain high standards of management of trees privately or council-owned, to ensure continuity of trees in the local landscape. The council will engage the community, and ensure the sustainability of existing and new trees is considered in relation to development decisions and to manage other risks associated with trees. 

• Conservative councillor/council lead: Cllr Lead Anna Bailey

• Further links: Project document, Woodland trust - local authority tree strategy suggested policy.