11. Birmingham Forest &
associated Tree Bond
Principle 3/ Embed into Policy and
Other Plans
Objective
Adopt clear standards for the
protection, care and planting of trees in
the local plan and key corporate policy
and investment documents.
Benefit
Ensures high level buy-in for tree-
related issues, which may ease access
to resources for trees.
12. Sefton’s tree planting
standard Policy DQ3
Principle 3/ Embed into Policy and
Other Plans
Objective
Adopt clear standards for the
protection, care and planting of trees
in the local plan and key corporate
policy and investment documents
Benefit
Contributes to ensuring positive
environmental outcomes from new
developments.
13. Bristol Greater Bus
Network
Principle 6/ Seek Multiple Benefits
Objective
Harvest the full range of benefits that
trees can deliver as part of a local
green infrastructure system, focusing
on key local aspirations.
Benefit
Enhances return on investment in
capital and revenue expenditure spent
on trees.
14. Hackney’s Tree
Champions and
Carers
Principle 9/ Create Stakeholders
Objective
Work with local political, professional
and community stakeholders to
champion the value of trees in the
townscape.
Benefit
Reduces conflicts and complaints
associated with nuisance trees.
Benefits of trees are better and better understood (increasing evidence base + new tool such as i-tree)
More examples of what trees can bring to make places look, feel and work better … . But our ability to integrate trees as part of our towns and cities ’ critical infrastructure has not kept pace with the scale of the potential that has been identified. Practice has fallen behind: planning, design, management decision do not currently allow to fully realise the oft-describe wide ranging benefits of urban trees. This is the gap ‘Trees in the Townscape’ was designed to address
Trees in the Townscape offers a set of 12 action oriented principles spanning the range of planning, design, works and management issues that must be addressed if the benefits of urban trees are to be fully realised. Some case studies of the principles in practice follow… Each principles is fully supported by an explanation of Objective Benefits Delivery mechanisms Examples of the principle in practice … and references for further reading Overall the document includes over 30 case study from all over England and further abroad, including the US and Hong Kong Here are some examples
Birmingham is looking at how to combine grey and green infrastructure. The City aims to increase its tree population by up to 30% by 2026…the ‘ Birmingham Forest ’ This is articulated in the Core Strategy (2015-2028) and supported through a wide range of plans and programmes. The Green Infrastructure and Adaptation Delivery Group have devised the ‘ Birmingham Tree Bond ’ to create a perpetual revenue stream of up to £500,000 per year.
Developments should not result in an unacceptable loss of or damage to existing trees. Trees not retained as part of the developments must be replaced at a ratio of at least 2:1 New trees must be planted – minimum of 3 trees per dwelling for residential and 1 tree per parking space of per 50 square metres whichever is greater for non-residential developments. Where trees cannot be planted on site, developers must pay the LA a sum in lieu to plant off site with a commuted sum for 10 years maintenance. 2400 trees have been planted since 2005.
Bristol City, Bath and NE Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils working together to deliver 10 improved bus routes in the region. Bristol has dedicated £450k from the transport funds for this project to environmental improvements including planting 500 new trees on key routes in the city.
Mayor Jules Pipe pledged to plant 1,000 street trees in Hackney by 2010 and these were in fact planted by 2009. When residents contact the borough to request a tree, they are invited to become a ‘ tree champion ’ for their street. There are now 300 tree champions and 1,500 ‘ tree carers ’ . The loss rate is very low - a 1% death rate in its newly planted street trees.
The Trees and Design Action Group would like to see all council leaders endorsing Trees in the Townscape and so we must work towards this. Bristol City Council is the first council to adopt the guide as a council.
So it is up to all of us to disseminate this guide as widely as possible and to encourage our council leaders to become tree champions!