Woodland works plant 2600 saplings

New trees have been planted in Redditch under Redditch Borough Council’s woodland management plan.

2,600 native oak, field maple and cherry saplings were planted at Hunt End Lane and Arrow Valley Park by borough council tree and landscape teams.

The council’s portfolio holder for Environmental Services, Cllr Brandon Clayton, said: “People in Redditch know that you’ll struggle to find a greener town anywhere in England, and we’re proud of what the borough council and local residents do to keep it that way. What a mammoth effort by the teams to plant nearly three thousand trees. It’s great to see new trees going in like this and creating future-proof new plantings which will be enjoyed by generations to come.”

It’s another piece of work under the council’s long-term plan across 168 hectares (415 acres) of woodlands in Redditch that form a valuable part of the town’s landscape and a well-used amenity for residents.

That 30-site plan, established in 1995, recognises that different approaches are required across various areas, led by residents’ needs and best practices in conservation and silviculture. Five designated ancient and semi-natural woodlands, at Pitcheroak, Southcrest, Wirehill, Oakenshaw, and Foxlydiate, plus several smaller spinneys, make up 116 hectares (289 acres) of the plan. They have quite different needs to the remaining 52 hectares (126 acres), a host of younger mostly new town plantations created since the 1960s to separate homes, roads, and industrial areas and create a more pleasant experience with lower noise and better air quality.

The plan also aims to be self-funding, to keep down the amount of Council Tax maintaining so much woodland would require. That’s mostly done by securing Forestry Commission grants and any proceeds from the sale of felled timber. These latest new trees were bought with just such a grant, to help replace trees that had to be removed owing to ash dieback. The borough council will now maintain them.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Matt Dormer, added: “Working closely with the Forestry Commission is an important part of the council’s work keeping Redditch green and we are grateful for their support.”

For more on tree management in the borough visit our Tree maintenance page

Pictured below: Borough council teams planted the 2,600 saplings over three days in December.