Trees 'put under pressure over climate change'

Trees across Telford & Wrekin are being put under increasing pressure partly through the impact of climate change, a meeting has been told.

An update on the local nature recovery strategy, which aims to help improve the state of nature in Shropshire, was given to Telford & Wrekin Council's environment scrutiny committee.

Climate change, global trade and travel had been promoting the spread of tree diseases which were being increasingly detected, the strategy noted.

The authority's team of two tree officers was being given extra resources to help remove trees, make them safe and carry out surveys, Councillor Carolyn Healy said.

Council official Alan Preece said it was "trying to create the most robust habitats possible" but "climate change makes that much more challenging".

"We don't know which way to jump because we don't know what the next disease will be," he said.

Some industry colleagues who had spent their entire careers creating woodlands were seeing them lost when they came to retirement, he said.

The council has received Tree Cities of the World (TCOTW) recognition.

The TCOTW website said its programme was "committed to inspiring cities and towns to care for and celebrate their urban tree canopy".

Healy said the authority was using a "good mix of native and non-native trees".

Trees from southern European countries were being used as part of the mix because they were "better able to withstand drier, hotter summers", she added.

The council's policy was to plant more trees than were lost through storm damage, members of the committee were told.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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