Tree and Woodland Planting Programme

Urban trees and woodland provide a diverse range of environmental and quality of life benefits that are important in tackling the current climate emergency. Trees and woodland increase the biodiversity of the area through the introduction of native and pollinator rich plant species that in turn provide habitat and food for wildlife, provide shade and heat absorption, reduce air pollution and offset carbon emissions.

A key action in ‘Our Chelmsford Our Plan’ and the ‘Climate and Ecological Emergency Declaration Action Plan’ is to undertake a greening programme to significantly increase the amount of woodland and proportion of tree cover in Chelmsford. This will be through a sustained 10 year tree planting campaign which aims to plant one tree for every resident and at least three new trees for every new home, helping to achieve the Climate and Ecological Emergency target to make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2030.

Planting and aftercare of the trees will be supported and undertaken by volunteer activities such as organisational/company volunteering days (and donations), existing volunteering groups/activities, schools/college volunteering activities, and community tree planting days.