Agenda item

The Panel received a report which provided an update on the tree planting

programme completed in 2021/22 and also set out the 2022/23 tree planting programme, as well proposals to develop an Urban Forest Plan for Haringey. The report was introduced by Simon Farrow, Head or Parks and Leisure as set out in the agenda pack at pages 43-46 of the agenda pack. The following arose during the discussion of this report:

a.    During the last planting season, the council planted 571 new trees. Of those  trees 475 were new street trees or in an adjacent verge. Of the 571 trees planted 134 were trees sponsored by residents through the Trees for Streets sponsorship platform.

b.    The 2022-2026 Labour Manifesto committed the Council to planting 10,000 new tress by 2030 and to continue planting trees until all wards can achieve 30% canopy cover.

c.    A mini-forest of 1200 trees would be planted this tree planting season Woodside ward. A further mini-forest of 200 trees would be planted in Finsbury Park to compensate for the removal of the 200 whips removed earlier this year that were planted in the wrong place.

d.    In response to a request from the Panel, officers confirmed that the new tree planting plan for this year would be based on the new ward boundary changes and officers agreed to circulate this updated plan, including the number for South Tottenham, to the Panel when it was available. (Action: Simon Farrow).

e.    In response to a question, officers advised that a number of tress had been removed from Finsbury Park as they had been planted by the Friends Group in the wrong location, that did not accord with the nature conservation plan for the park. The Council would be planting 200 trees in the park at a more suitable location.

f.     In response to a question, officers agreed to circulate information about the number of trees will be planted in the reconstituted Bruce Grove wards. (Action: Simon Farrow).

g.    The Panel commented that a lot of tree planting tended to take place in parks and that there was a need to ensure street trees were planted and that there was adequate canopy cover on the streets. The Panel sought assurances about how residents could feed into the location of street trees. In response, officers advised that they were also looking at improving street canopy cover and that they would be using technology to assess where the available space for trees was, and doing so in recognition of the climate emergency and their role in providing on-street shade. Once this mapping exercise had been done, the Council would be seeking the views of residents on where they would like to see trees planted. The Cabinet Member advised that he was committed to resident engagement on tree planting and that this was set out in tree and woodland plan part of the Parks and Green Spaces Strategy.

h.    In response to a questions about community orchards and the planting of fruit trees, officers confirmed that they would be looking to plant MORE fruit trees in suitable areas as part of the developing strategy around food growing.

i.      In relation to types of trees being planted and concerns about historical instances of planting trees that were unsuitable to an urban environment, officers set out that the Council no longer planted larger forest style trees, such as London Plane trees, and instead sought to plant trees with a much smaller habit. The Council also planted trees using a root barrier in order to encourage downward root growth and minimise tree roots interfering with pavements.

j.      In response to concerns about pavements going right up the base of trees, officers advised the root network of trees was usually far larger than its canopy and that trees got very little of their water from around the trunk of the tree.

RESOLVED

Noted