Tree Planting Plans for Ashington
Ashington Town Council’s Climate Change Working Group has its roots in the town
The planting of trees is widely recognised as one of the largest and least expensive ways to remove CO2 from the atmosphere in helping to tackle the climate crisis across the world.
Often individuals can become overwhelmed by the realities of climate change and feel quite helpless in the pursuit of becoming carbon net zero, but everyone can do something. Small behavioural changes can make a huge difference, and in the right place, tree planting schemes are a significant contributor.
Trees absorb and store huge amounts of carbon. Whereas other carbon removal methods need expensive technology, tree planting does not. The experts tell us that natural climate solutions like forest conservation and restoration can deliver a third of the climate mitigation needed over the next ten years.
Ashington Town Council’s Climate Change Working Group was set up to drive the Council towards carbon reducing projects and policies, and tree planting is very high on their agenda.
In the first meeting of the New Year, the Climate Change Working Group recommended three separate tree planting schemes to the Council, all of which were wholeheartedly supported.
The schemes will be delivered at Woodhorn Villas, off Woodhorn Road, the A197/A1068 junction at the east entrance to the town, and a larger scheme off Newbiggin Road, opposite the Freeman Way roundabout. These are the first of several tree schemes being looked at by the Climate Change Working Group who hope to build up their portfolio of local suppliers and contractors able to deliver schemes. The trees being planted are semi-mature to maximise carbon capture more quickly, and a more sturdy solution against the elements.
Cllr Jim Lang, Chair of the Climate Change Working Group is pleased the group is gaining some momentum. “We want to bring properly researched climate conscious projects and initiatives to the Council agenda and make good use of the funding allocated to this purpose. These schemes are costing over £10k but we want to do so much more.”
For more information on the ‘How trees fight climate change’ visit the Woodland Trust website linked below.
