17 October 2022

A new Interim Tree and Woodland Strategy will help enhance Cambridgeshire’s environment and play a significant role in fighting climate change.

The interim strategy was approved by the Environment and Green Investment committee of Cambridgeshire County Council on October 13^th with the target of completing a full strategy by winter 2023 and beginning its implementation the following spring.

The new document describes the council's vision for its trees and the actions it can take to improve them. The Joint Administration of Cambridgeshire County Council has identified climate change and biodiversity as two of its top priorities.

This comes after the council recently secured £300,000 from the Forestry Commission's Local Authority Treescapes Fund in collaboration with Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, and East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Cambridgeshire surprisingly has one of the lowest levels of tree cover in England.

Councillor Lorna Dupré, chair of the committee, said: “Managing climate change and increasing biodiversity are central to the Joint Administration’s vision for the county. This interim strategy will help us make progress in both areas by using our property assets to improve our environment. “We have seen around the world the devastating impact climate change is having, so it is important we do everything possible to mitigate against it here in Cambridgeshire.”

The interim strategy can be read here and a livestream of the meeting can be watched back on the council’s YouTube channel.