Cardiff Council will benefit from the charity’s Emergency Tree Fund, set up to encourage local authorities to make trees a central part of their policies, and boost tree cover to tackle climate change.

After receiving a grant of £228,862 Cardiff Council is looking to plant more than 800 hectares of tree cover over the next decade.

Cllr Peter Bradbury, Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said:

“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 working towards our vision for a carbon neutral, One Planet Cardiff.

“Alongside action on other areas such as transport, energy and food, planting more trees is an important part of our strategic response to the climate crisis. This funding will help us do exactly that, but it’s more than just a numbers game, it’s also about planting the right trees in the right places. That’s why, as well as significantly increasing the number of trees we plant, we’ll also be using some of this funding to help establish a tree nursery to secure a stock of locally grown, native trees we can plant in the future.” 

“Ahead of the tree planting season re-starting in the autumn we’ll be finalising our plans for this funding, looking at exactly where and what type of trees we will be planting, as well as how this project will dovetail with other, major tree-planting schemes, that are also currently being developed.” 

Natalie Buttriss, Director of Coed Cadw said:

“Back in October 2020, Cardiff Council unveiled its blueprint to become a carbon-neutral city by 2030, and its ambition to increase urban tree cover from 18.9 to 25%. The Emergency Tree Fund aims to help local authorities turn such ambitions into reality.

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.”

Among the aims of the Emergency Tree Fund are to boost green spaces for health, plant trees to soak up harmful carbon and combat pollution and create detailed strategies to meet carbon zero targets.

In total, up to £3.4 million will be going to councils across the UK. It is a key part of The Woodland Trust’s recently announced ambitious aim to plant 50 million trees by 2025.

John Tucker, the Woodland Trust’s Director of Woodland Outreach at the Trust said:

“This funding to UK councils has the power to inspire a new generation in tree planting and galvanise the need to treasure trees in their neighbourhoods. The country’s fight against COVID-19 has already shown how communities can come together in a time of crisis.

As the pandemic hopefully abates, getting outside and planting trees will be a way for this spirit to be harnessed once again in a different but a very important way - to tackle climate change.”

To achieve its 50 million tree aim, The Woodland Trust is aiming to create new woods as well as work with landowners, local and national government, businesses and the public. Its Emergency Tree Fund may be expanded should this prove a success.