Tree planting

In 2019, North Somerset Council introduced rewilding across the area. This resulted in the creation of 36 hectares of long grass habitat and the planting of 30,000 trees. 

This has boosted biodiversity as well as increasing awareness of the council’s mitigation against the climate emergency.

We started the next phase of tree planting in 2023. We're aiming to increase canopy cover, create shade, improve open spaces and increase public access to trees. 

We're planting more large trees, known as standards, in open spaces across North Somerset. Standards allow for spaces to remain open and require less maintenance once established.

Trees are vital for the health of our planet and our own health and wellbeing. They are our greatest tool to reduce the impact of climate change, through the carbon they remove from the atmosphere. Here are some of the reasons why:

• carbon: trees absorb carbon and lock it away, permanently removing it from our atmosphere
• cleaner air: not only do trees produce oxygen but they also absorb pollutant gases. This gives cleaner air and decreases illness linked to air pollution
• cooler temperatures: urban areas can become heat islands. This can result in extreme temperatures, especially in the summer. Trees provide shade and can even block harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays
• flood prevention: root systems allow air and water to penetrate the soil. This slows water flow through the soil, which can be helpful at times of high rainfall. The canopy of trees intercepting rain also helps to reduce flood risk
• improved living: trees have been proven to have numerous benefits, including improving mental health and helping to increase property values. Studies have shown that improved access to trees can have a calming effect, and neighbourhoods with more trees have lower levels of antisocial behaviour

• nature emergency: much of our planned work within the tree planting project supports our declaration of a nature emergency. Planting more trees alongside existing woodland will allow wildflowers, birds, insects and soil microbes to spread into new areas, providing more flowering and fruit producing plants
• rewilding: a full council motion to rewild as much of our land as possible began in 2019. To date, 36 hectares of council land have been improved for the benefit of wildlife, including planting 15 hectares of trees. We still have more to do!
• carbon footprint: North Somerset Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. Since then, we’ve been looking at ways to become carbon neutral. Planting more trees together with other steps including reducing the frequency that we cut grass across the area is helping to reduce our carbon footprint
• green infrastructure strategy: we adopted a new Green Infrastructure Strategy in 2021. This strategy continues to deliver the council’s core vision for a more open, fair and green North Somerset. One of our ambitions in the strategy is to increase tree canopy cover across the area to benefit people and nature
• health and wellbeing: trees and green spaces generally are widely acknowledged for the benefits they bring to health and wellbeing. This includes reducing air pollution, providing shade and cooling, and improving people’s connection to nature, which in turn improves physical and mental health

Community engagement is fundamental to the success of tree-planting projects. We see more success with newly planted trees taking root, growing and thriving when the local community is more engaged and involved with tree planting.

We want communities to feel involved in the planting site identification, tree species selection and even get involved with the planting itself.

We'll ask residents to have their say on areas we've identified as planting locations. We'll listen to all comments and they will shape our plans.

We'll also get in touch with people directly, such as delivering letters and leaflets through doors, where we feel it is necessary. This would include planting trees in streets and near to people's homes.

If you have received a leaflet saying we are planning to plant trees near you, please send any comments to treeplanting@n-somerset.gov.uk.

We’ve created a map to show our suggested tree-planting locations. This gives people an opportunity to review our proposals and have their say, either to show support or raise concerns.

The sites selected are subject to checks, such as sight lines, proximity to buildings and looking for underground cables providing utilities and services.

We would love to hear from you if you know of any piece of land that could benefit from tree planting. Please contact us at treeplanting@n-somerset.gov.uk.

Get involved

We're always on the lookout for volunteers to help with our tree planting and aftercare. If this is something you would like to be a part of, please email our tree team at treeplanting@n-somerset.gov.uk.