Worcester City Council has adopted a new long-term strategy that will shape how trees across the city are managed and increased in number over the next 25 years.
This follows a very successful public consultation which showed how much local people value trees and the contribution they make to a healthy and sustainable city.
The Worcester Trees Strategy (2025-2050) provides a clear framework for the appropriate management of existing trees and the planting of new ones. It also sets out a vision for how the city’s urban treescape will evolve and adapt over time.
Read the Worcester Trees Strategy.
Worcester has many precious green spaces but levels of tree cover can be improved in areas of the city.
The strategy aims to enhance the character and appearance of the city by developing a diverse treescape by 2050, while helping Worcester adapt to the effects of climate change.
During the first five years, priority will be given to identifying and planting trees in locations where they can help to reduce heat, manage flood risk and address health inequalities.
A key objective of the strategy is to increase the proportion of the city that is covered by trees – known as the “tree canopy” – from around 16% to at least 20% by 2050.
Adopting a long-term tree strategy should also help unlock future funding opportunities to pay for more tree planting, and make it easier for the City Council to work with partners on environmental sustainability projects.
Councillor Zoe Cookson, Chair of Worcester City Council’s Environment Committee, said: “The Worcester Trees Strategy (2025-2050) is an important piece of work that sets out how the City Council will manage existing trees and plant new ones across parks and other Council-owned land over the next 25 years.
“Trees in urban areas play a vital role in improving the look and feel of our city for both residents and visitors. Research also shows a clear link between people having access to green spaces with trees and an improvement in their mental wellbeing.”
The Worcester Trees Strategy (2025-2050) was developed following a city-wide public consultation, which helped establish local people’s priorities for tree cover, expansion, wildlife protection and tree preservation.
The strategy will complement and support the Council’s wider policy framework, including the Worcester City Plan, Biodiversity Strategy, Local Nature Recovery Strategy, South Worcestershire Development Plan and other planning policy documents.
