Wirral has been named “tree city of the world” for the second year in a row
Storeton Woods on the Wirral. (Image: Liverpool Echo)
Wirral Council has provided an update on a plan to create a new “Mersey Forest” across the region. The latest comes as Wirral has been named “tree city of the world” for the second year in a row.
The Mersey Forest is one of 15 community forests across England, covering an area across Merseyside and Cheshire. It aims to create 3,600 new hectares of woodland, plant 10m new trees, improve woodland management, and engage with local communities.
A report before councillors at an environment committee meeting next week said the 2021 scheme is “one of the UK’s largest and longest-running environmental transformation projects” and offers “significant financial benefits.” If councillors decide to back out, the report said it would limit how the council could deliver on its environmental aims.
At the moment, Wirral Council currently pays £20,000 to take part but the partnership allows the council to bid for funding. For every £1 invested by councillors, the forest plan said communities gain £10 in benefits.
According to the most recent plan put forward for the new forest, 1.5m tonnes of carbon dioxide have been stored by the woodlands that have already been established with 94km of hedgerows planted or restored.
The aim is to have 15% of Cheshire and Merseyside covered by trees by 2050, with a longer-term ambition to get this to 30%. By 2050, the plan is to have 80% of woodlands sustainably managed, with the aim of 100% after that.
At an environment, climate emergency, and transport committee meeting, councillors are being asked to approve a refreshed plan for the new forest as well as approve a continued membership of the scheme for five years.
The plan said: “The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, one of the least forested in Europe, and the world’s second largest net importer of forest products. Major public health challenges include obesity, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory conditions, anxiety, depression, and stress.
“And all pathways to net zero point to the necessity for more trees to offset residual greenhouse gas emissions. It is crucial that we act now on these issues.
“In general, the starting point for our work is trees and woods, but these cannot be considered in isolation and must contribute to a thriving mosaic of other habitats.”
Only 27 areas of the United Kingdom have been named a ‘Tree City of the World’ with Wirral given the title for the second year in a year.
The local authority said it is given to cities and areas around the world that are demonstrating leadership in managing their urban trees and helping to address many of the common environmental issues that face communities everywhere
The recognition is one of the headlines contained within the yearly report shortly to be considered by Wirral Council’s Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport (ECET) Committee updating them on the progress of the Tree, Hedgerow and Woodland Strategy.
Aside from the ‘Tree City of the World’ recognition, the progress noted from last year includes an increase of the net tree canopy cover in the borough of nearly 52,000 square metres.