Around 220 new trees will be planted this year in parks and open spaces in Nuneaton, Bedworth, and Bulkington, with 120 more due to be planted next year.
Funding for the trees was secured by Warwickshire County Council via the Urban Tree Challenge Fund to support its pledge to plant a tree for every resident in Warwickshire.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council’s Parks and Green Spaces team worked to carefully identify and plan the locations best suited to each tree species, together with Warwickshire County Council’s Forestry Team and the team’s two apprentices responsible for conducting the planting.
With the Borough Council’s support, Warwickshire County Council also secured money from the Forestry Commission Woodland Creation Acceleration to fund two new Planting Officers to further support future tree planting in Warwickshire.
Pending weather conditions, the first phase of planting should be completed by the end of this month, with a second phase taking place during the next planting season, starting in September 2024.
Sixty-one medium to large tree species will be planted, including, alder, common oak, weeping willow, hornbeam and sweet chestnut, to help increase biodiversity and boost the sustainability of tree stock within the borough.
Cllr Julian Gutteridge, Portfolio Holder for Health and Environment, said:
“By the time this year’s planting is finished and, in addition to the trees planted in 2023, it will mean we have seen over 400 new trees planted in the last two years across the Borough, which is wonderful news.
“We will be planting many more trees in the future, they bring so many benefits, including encouraging biodiversity, improving air quality, and helping to ease the effects of climate change.
“A great range of species have been carefully chosen to complement our borough landscape, and I hope our residents and visitors will enjoy them for years to come.”