Somerset Council has planted just 1/3 of trees it promised in 2023.
According to the 2023 Tree Strategy, the council should have delivered more than 720 hectares of new woodland over the past three years, more even than the 2022 Lib Dem manifesto, which promised 150,000 trees per year (approx 100 hectares pa on average). But since figures are not published publicly, how well is it doing?
Axbridge campaigner Graham Godwin-Pearson asked the question at today's Council Executive meeting in Taunton.
The reply came from the executive member that 243 acres have been delivered since May 2023, along with some examples of urban tree planting.
Graham says, "While any tree planting is welcome, the gap between promise and delivery is too large to ignore. Tree planting is about more than meeting environmental targets. New woodland absorbs carbon, improves biodiversity, reduces flood risk and enhances the natural landscape. Ambitious commitments can inspire public confidence and win votes, but they must be backed-up by meaningful action and measurable results.
"We have a climate emergency and a biodiversity crisis, plus a Net Zero target of 2030 and a tree cover target of 13% by 2033 (currently 8% in Somerset). These targets are unrealistic if the council doesn't act now.
"Environmental pledges should be judged by outcomes, not announcements. I hope now that the council will explain how it intends to close the gap and get the tree planting programme back on track."
