News Call for tree planting projects
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is calling on anyone who owns large areas of land in the borough to be part of an ambitious tree-planting project.
All part of the Council’s Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan the project looks to partner with local landowners to plant trees on their land in order to increase biodiversity, combat climate change and to help the borough reduce its carbon footprint.
MBC will subsidise or match funding to support landowners plant more trees and link tree planting projects to national government initiatives.
With help from the Kent Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust the scheme will make sure tree species would be appropriate, determine whether it is possible to create woodland corridors or enhance ancient woodlands, increase flood prevention through tree planting, and enhance natural habitats and increase biodiversity.
Deputy Leader of Maidstone Borough Council Jonathan Purle said:
“Maidstone Council is committed to major tree-planting throughout the Borough. Planting trees and increasing woodland cover is critical to us achieving net zero and biodiversity gain locally, as well as tackling issues like air quality in the town, flooding in our villages south of Maidstone and other local environmental harms caused by decades of over-development.“We already have the benefit of Forestry England’s creation of the Pleasant Forest out at Platt’s Heath near Lenham, which is aiming to plant some 180,000 trees across a 300 acre site. But we need to go much further to make sure the right trees are planted in the right places throughout the Borough. That is why this project is so important.”
Through the project landowners and land managers are able to make a proposal for tree planting projects on their land that will then be considered by the council for funding or match funding opportunities. The council has set out criteria for priority projects, and favoured projects would include:
- Projects that favour large scale planting of young trees, whippets and saplings.
- Projects where tree planting is long term, and that new trees will be maintained.
- If there are public rights of way in the proposed project land, that the new trees will be adequately protected.
- Priority will be given to proposals that match funds to be paid in proportion to funds available from the council.
- Land will not be considered if there are buildings, concrete and other large-scale obstacles to be removed.
- Larger areas of land for tree planting will be prioritised however a minimum of 1 acre or half hectare of land will be considered.
Any landowners who have land that meet the criteria and would be happy to help improve biodiversity please visit https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/other-services/campaigns-and-projects/tier-2-primary-areas/call-for-tree-planting