Issue - meetings

To seek agreement to the Council adopting the Woodland Trust’s Tree Charter, in principle, so as to ensure its overriding principles were used in the development of other relevant Council policies.

Decision

(1)       That the Council adopts the Woodland Trust’s Tree Charter, in principle, on the basis that these will be its guiding principles to be considered when assessing tree related issues and that, having adopted it in principle, it does not bind the Council to it exclusively to the detriment of other strategic objectives.

(2)       That the Council agrees to work with the Woodland Trust and other partners to translate the Tree Charter principles into action in the City of Lincoln both in terms of policy development and tree planting, in particular to help the Council deliver its commitment to tackling the climate emergency.

None.

The Woodland Trust was a charity established to protect ancient trees and woodland, as well as promoting trees and the benefits of trees. To assist in the Trust’s mission, it had produced a Tree Charter which set out ten key high level strategic considerations that it wished individuals and organisations to embrace in their thinking about trees.

The Woodland Trust was seeking as many signatories to the Tree Charter as possible as tangible evidence of the nation’s support for its ideals.

A copy of the Tree Charter was appended to the report and included ten key principles, as follows:

·         nature – sustain landscapes rich in wildlife;

·         planning – plant for the future;

·         arts and heritage – celebrate the power of trees inspire;

·         health and wellbeing – recover health, hope and wellbeing with the help of trees;

·         protection – protect irreplaceable trees and woods;

·         planning – plan greener local landscapes;

·         utility and livelihoods – grow forests of opportunity and innovation;

·         coping with threats – combat the threat to our habitats;

·         people and access – make trees accessible to all;

·         environment – strengthen our landscape with trees.

The Trust had suggested that the Council may wish to consider adoption of the Tree Charter in principle as a first step and that this could be a stepping stone to the development of other suitable policies across the Council, over time.