News Be part of an ambitious tree-planting project
“Do something for the environment and the world” says Cllr Steve Munford as Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) encourages anyone who owns areas of land in the borough to be part of an ambitious tree-planting project.
The Council is looking 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.
Cllr Munford is also a Parish Councillor in Boughton Monchelsea where they have recently planted up 32 acres with new trees to try to increase biodiversity in the area. He said:
“For some years now the Parish Council has been acquiring land where we can, with a view to planting it out with new trees. I feel passionately that we need to protect our planet and by creating new woodland areas, we can go some small way to doing this.”
The project is all part of the Council’s Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan and The Council will subsidise or match funding to support landowners plant more trees and link tree planting projects to national government initiatives.
“Anyone with just one acre or half a hectare of spare land will be considered, it will all make a difference. Across Boughton Monchelsea we have now planted around 22,000 trees. We used a government carbon grant to buy the trees and do the work and all the saplings are native to the UK, in years to come they will create beautiful woodland areas.”
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:
- A minimum of one acre or half hectare of land will be considered although larger areas of land for tree planting will be prioritised.
- 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.
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.
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