Tree planting celebrates National Tree Week

Trees have been planted across the district this week by South Kesteven District Council to celebrate National Tree Week (27 November – 5 December).

A total of 50 native trees have gone into the ground on council-owned areas of green space in Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping.

Cllr Kelham Cooke, the Leader of SKDC, launched the celebration on Wednesday morning with four silver birch and six rowan trees planted on the recreation area at Gonerby Hill Foot play area.

Cllr Cooke, whose Cabinet portfolio includes action on climate change, said: ”Everyone agrees that tree planting helps to address the issues that climate change presents,  absorbing and storing carbon from the atmosphere as they grow.

“We have allocated our £20,000 climate change reserve fund towards increasing tree cover, which delivers as part of our wider ambitions regarding the challenges we face. This is a valuable step forward, establishing attractive new plantations in each of our towns and creating new wildlife habitats.”

Three other sites in the district have also had new trees planted, which includes a mix of species such as wild cherry, rowan, silver birch, hornbeam, medlar and whitebeam which have been selected for their benefits to biodiversity.

Each of these trees is at least five years old upon planting, and the additional size of these trees delivers an immediate impact in the open spaces, as well as being more likely to establish and thrive for years to come.