Salisbury City Council has been awarded funding for the planting of new trees in the City

Salisbury City Council are delighted to have been awarded funding for the planting and establishment of 200 new trees in the City.

Following a successful application to the Forestry Commissions Urban Tree Challenge Fund, the City Council received £134,619.12 to plant trees in areas throughout the City.

During the first year (2023/24) 100 trees will be planted in the following locations:

Hudson’s Field – 40 trees
The Friary – 10 trees
The Valley, Bemerton Heath – 25 trees
Essex Square – 10 trees
Westwood Open Space, Bemerton Heath – 15 trees

In the second year (2024/25) 100 trees will be planted in the following locations:

St Paul’s Ward – 25 trees
St Edmund’s Ward – 25 trees
Victoria Park – 50 trees

In 2022/23, Salisbury City Council worked with Environmental Consultants, Johns Associates Ltd and The Woodland Trust, to produce a Tree & Ecosystem Strategy. This strategy has enabled the City Council to access funding from the Forestry Commission and so continue to focus on creating a ‘green’ Salisbury.

As part of its commitment to tackle climate change, Salisbury City Council has set a target of increasing tree canopy cover on the land it owns or controls so that it exceeds the current national average of 16%. The City Council has set itself the ambitious target of at least 21% tree canopy coverage within each of the wards in Salisbury parish.

The National Tree Atlas data confirms that the percentage of canopy coverage per ward on land owned and maintained by Salisbury City Council currently ranges between 6% & 20%.

One of the Leaders of the Council, Cllr Victoria Charleston said, “I am delighted that Salisbury City Council’s Tree & Ecosystem Strategy has provided the springboard to secure this substantial funding from the Forestry Commissions, Urban Tree Challenge Fund. Salisbury City Council is committed to planting more trees in the City to help tackle climate change, increase biodiversity and reduce pollution.”