2050 Urban Forest Strategy Engagement

Published 9th November 2023. Consultation closed 17th December.

Our vision for all our trees and woodlands

BCP Council has launched a public consultation on a draft Urban Forest Strategy, created to maximise and enhance all the benefits trees and woodlands provide to our environment and communities.

The draft strategy has been shaped by engagement with residents and key stakeholders and developed by a working group involving key council services and partners, and proposes an exciting vision for the future of trees in the BCP area until 2050.

It identifies opportunities to manage the challenges and impacts of urban development and climate change for current and future generations in both the public and private realms.

Councillor Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, said:

“I’m pleased to bring forward this draft strategy, which for the first time sets out a clear vision for the future of trees and woodlands across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Trees play a vital role in supporting biodiversity and this strategy recognises that our trees and woodland will also play their part in helping meet the council’s ambitious climate and ecological targets.

“The BCP region boasts a diverse treescape, with one of the highest levels of urban tree canopy covers found in a coastal area in England. However, some areas have few trees, and tree cover in private residential gardens is declining, with most wards in the conurbation experiencing canopy loss over the past decade. This council wants to turn the tide on this decline and support tree growth across all wards in the BCP area.”

The council’s first Urban Forest Strategy was developed using the feedback and comments received in a tree and woodland public survey carried out in autumn 2022. Alongside this feedback, the council facilitated two stakeholder workshops, which included representatives from council departments, local businesses, charities and tree specialists.

Councillor Hadley added: “I urge everyone to give their view, as this strategy’s success will require us all to play our part. A healthy urban forest will contribute to improving local air quality and resilience to flooding, whilst also providing habitats for wildlife and help support the health and wellbeing of our communities.”

Consultation closed at 11.59pm on Sunday 17 December 2023

We sought your views on the vision and principles, as well as what actions you considered important and any other suggestions you had. Contributions are now closed for evaluation and review. The project team will report back on key outcomes.

Trees in Leeson Road, Bournemouth

What is the urban forest?

The urban forest encompasses all the trees that grow in and around an urbanised area. Every tree in our conurbation is therefore part of the urban forest, including those found on streets, in parks, in natural areas, in private gardens, and even those growing in the conurbation’s rural fringes.

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