New project to plant 30,000 new trees in Portsmouth to be considered
AN ADDITIONAL 30,000 trees could be planted in parks, on private land and along roads in Portsmouth as part of a 'wonderful' greening project.
The city council is proposing a scheme to plant extra trees over the next 25 years, along with more hedges, shrubberies, wildflowers and the potential for roof planting and green walls.
If approved at a cabinet meeting next week, it will add to the existing 86,500 trees in the city - 50,000 of which were planted on the Horsea Island Country Park since 2018.
Councillor Steve Pitt, deputy leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: 'Green space is a big issue in a densely populated city like Portsmouth and we need to make sure we take full advantage of any opportunity to increase the amount and quality of greenery.
'These plans can help improve city-wide issues such as air quality while also making a difference to people's health and wellbeing. I know it's something residents are passionate about and I hope my colleagues support the proposals.'
It is thought around 12,000 of the trees would be put on roads, parks and other open spaces while the rest would be on private land including at schools, sports clubs, pub gardens and land owned by Royal Navy and NHS.
The plans were welcomed by national charity The Tree Council. Chief executive of the charity, Sara Lom, said: 'This is a wonderful commitment from Portsmouth City Council. These trees will provide cleaner air, greener and more pleasant streets and longer-term, help to mitigate climate change.
'These trees will join the thousands planted over the past decade by our fantastic volunteer tree wardens in Portsmouth and Southsea. We hope that many more local groups will join the planting campaign and work together to help care for the trees in the decades to come.'
Keep Milton Green leader, Kimberly Barratt, added: 'It's a lovely step forward.
'It's nice to see this is focused in not just one area but across the city. People have a better quality of life in a greener area. It's nice to see there will be planting in urban areas that are drab and grey.'
The strategy will be considered by cabinet on Tuesday, March 10.