Salford City Council has pledged to support the planting of 8,000 trees by 2028, as part of their commitment to fighting climate change.
The council will work with the Greater Manchester community forest and charity, City of Trees, to identify planting sites for street trees and new woodland areas, and work together to plant the trees over the next four years.
They will also work with developers in the planning process to plant new trees as part of new developments.
Trees have a host of benefits, from improving air quality by taking up pollutants and helping to reduce flood risk by intercepting water in their leaves and roots, to releasing chemicals which strengthen people’s immune, hormonal and nervous systems.
Importantly, they absorb carbon dioxide, helping us in the fight against climate change. A single, fully-grown tree can absorb up to 22kg of carbon every year.
Cllr Jane Hamilton, Executive Support Member for Climate Change, Low Carbon and Green Agenda at Salford City Council said “the council declared a climate emergency in 2019 in recognition of the need for more urgent action to combat climate breakdown and ensure the city is as resilient as possible. Responding to climate change is one of the key priorities in our corporate plan, This is our Salford, which aims to create a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all.
“Our pledge to plant 8,000 trees by 2028 is just one of the practical steps we are taking to protect current and future generations from the impacts of climate change.”
Kevin Wigley from City of Trees said “We have the funding for trees and woods, and so finding suitable locations for them to be planted is a priority of ours. We’re pleased to be working with Salford City Council to identify the best place for the new trees to be planted so their benefits can be enjoyed by residents for generations to come.
“We would encourage any other landowners in Salford to get in touch about planting woodlands on their land. Each wooded area contributes to creating a greener, more climate-resilient Salford.”
To find out more about how Salford is responding to climate change visit www.greenersalford.info
