Councillor Carolyn Renwick, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, plants a tree assisted by, from left, Mark Hudson, senior project officer in our countryside service, and Richard Bonner, head of countryside.
The total on the Million Trees campaign totaliser has ticked over the half a million mark to 534,062 thanks to the efforts of partner organisations, residents, landowners and volunteers.
From single trees in back gardens to school yard orchards to community projects and large-scale plantings it’s all adding up and helping to boost the environment and tackle the effects of climate change.
Stories have been told of trees planted to mark special times like the arrival of a new family member, moving to a new home or in memory of loved ones. Trees are transforming waste land, creating wildlife havens and filling gaps in farmers’ fields and existing woodlands. Others, like the planting of 70 fruit trees in Pinxton to mark the 70-year reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, will provide apples, plums, pears, cherries and damsons for the local community in years to come.
Our Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, Councillor Carolyn Renwick said:
“There have been some great efforts in support of our campaign and we’re nudging ever closer to our one million tree target working with national bodies, community groups and residents.
“Thanks are due to all those giving their support through planting on their land, getting stuck in to volunteer or providing sponsorship. There have been some bigger projects by environmental bodies but I am really pleased to see that of the half a million trees more than 16,800 of these are down to the enthusiasm of residents to green their own local spaces.
“I am confident that we can reach our target in advance of 2030 and hope to get even more people involved.”
There is still a way to go so we’re calling on people to keep on planting. If you’ve planted a tree anywhere in Derbyshire since June 2021 it can be counted towards the million trees target.
Please add your tree to the online map on the Million Trees website It is quick and easy to do. You can read some of the inspiring stories on the map about why people have planted a tree and share your own story if you like.
The Million Trees project is part of Derbyshire’s journey to becoming a net zero county by 2050 or sooner. Planting trees brings considerable benefits to our eco systems and society. They help with carbon absorption, flood protection and support for biodiversity. And the trees will naturally colonise creating extra green spaces in addition to our established woodlands.
Additional tree planting also supports a wider project to protect and prioritise nature in Derbyshire. We are leading the Local Nature Recovery Strategy project to identify and describe biodiversity across Derbyshire and identify opportunities and priorities to support nature recovery.
The strategy will set out the long-term vision and action plan for local organisations, businesses, landowners and the public to work together to improve the natural environment across Derbyshire - and tree planting will play a key role in helping to boost biodiversity in the areas where it is most needed.
If you own land and are interested in planting more trees we are offering support and advice, email milliontrees@derbyshire.gov.uk.
Landowners on the eastern and southern fringes of Derbyshire can get financial support from Government for tree planting as part of Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest - and trees planted within the community forest area can be counted towards the Million Trees target. Find out more about Heartwood Community Forest.
Local businesses and organisations can also get involved by sponsoring or contributing trees, planting on their property, staff volunteering and events.