Burton tree project: overview
We all love to see trees in our neighbourhoods and landscapes, but did you know they can provide all these benefits?
Street trees have been linked to lower levels of asthma in children and increases in property values. Green spaces have also been shown to reduce crime levels and improve health, especially in more deprived areas.
A community project in Burton-upon-Trent has explored the benefits trees are delivering to the people who live and work there and to the local environment.
Volunteers have been actively involved in the project and provided help with surveying and data entry. Some of the key findings are:
- the cost to replace Burton’s existing trees is £54.2 million
- trees are highly regarded by the community as part of the local landscape and are valued at £1,126 million
- Burton’s trees are storing 19,800 tonnes of carbon, valued at £1.23 million
- 23 tonnes of air pollution are removed by Burton’s trees each year valued at £48,800
- trees reduce the amount of rainwater runoff by 23,700m3 each year saving £21,700.
The results of the survey work have been used to inform a management plan. Compared to other towns and cities Burton has a relatively low tree cover at 9.4% and is dominated by younger trees. The management plan includes targets to boost tree cover and better manage existing trees. Four priority areas have been identified where trees would particularly benefit local communities in addition to broader objectives. For example mental health and wellbeing has been proven to improve in 'greener' areas. Areas of higher deprivation have been identified as priority areas for planting.
The key finding of the study and the management aims are included in the summary report:
Further details on the methodology, survey results and management plan are available in the following reports:
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You can help
We are looking for suitable places in Burton for tree planting and also identify the health and location of some of our older trees.
Anyone interested in helping with survey work should contact Dianne Hewgill:
Email: dianne.hewgill@staffordshire.gov.uk
Full training will be provided and surveys can be completed at times convenient to the volunteer.
This project has received funding from the National Forest Company and is being delivered in partnership by:
- Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
- Staffordshire County Council
- Burton Conservation Volunteers
- East Staffordshire Borough Council
- National Forest Company.