A NEW scheme to boost the planting and protection of trees on public land has been launched.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have launched a new policy which outline how they will protect, plant and manage trees on the land they own, and how they will support communities with their own tree planting initiatives.

The two councils hope that by planting and protecting trees in the area it will help reduce carbon emissions by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.

The new Policy for Planting Trees on Council Land includes five principles which outline how the councils aim to protect, plant and manage trees on land they own through: planting, caring and maintenance, supporting biodiversity, planning and development, and community. It also clearly identifies the process for community members to plant trees on council land.

Councillor Peter Dragonetti, Tree Champion at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Trees play many important roles in protecting our environment, tackling the climate emergency, and improving our own health and wellbeing. Planting trees, and protecting and managing our trees, woodlands and hedgerows, as guided by this policy, will help to deliver these outcomes for generations to come.”

The new policy helps support both councils' priority to tackle the climate emergency and achieve their carbon neutral targets.