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Tree Strategy for Reading

TREE STRATEGY FOR READING • JUNE 2010 3

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Trees are vital to the future sustainability of oururban environment. They contribute manysocial, environmental and economic benefitsto an urban area. They are an importantcomponent of the character of an area.However, this natural resource needs to beproperly managed, utilising increasingly limitedresources. We all have a responsibility toensure that Reading’s tree cover continuesinto the future with the ability to withstandchanging climate conditions during the 21stCentury and beyond. Reading BoroughCouncil as community leader intends to playits part. However, the Council is not able todo this alone and needs to determine what itspriorities will be and how it will use its powersand influence over others to contribute tomaintaining, renewing and enhancing treecover in the Borough.

1.2 This document sets out a shared vision andstrategy for trees in Reading, for both theprivate and public sectors. It considers variousissues and options in relation to trees and setsout a strategic approach towards futuremanagement. The Government encourageslocal authorities to produce tree strategies topromote the management and enhancementof the tree population in their areas, includingstreet trees, and to use current “BestPractice.”

1.3 Over recent years the Council has beenproactively moving towards a strategicapproach to managing its tree responsibilities.The call for the preparation of a Tree Strategyfollowed a series of concerns about thereplacement of felled trees in various parts ofthe Borough. In October 2008, a Councilmotion was agreed as follows:

“This Council has always recognised thesignificant and positive contribution thattrees can make to the quality of the urbanenvironment. In particular, it notes that:

1. Trees can greatly enhance the visual amenityof our environment, are vital for people’ssense of well-being and contribute toeveryone’s quality of life.

2. Trees are essential in maintaining andenhancing the Borough’s biodiversity.

3. Trees play a crucial role in reducing urbantemperatures, mitigating the effects ofclimate change and facilitating better urbandrainage.

The Council is already working to protectand enhance tree cover across the Borough.The Council continues to review and add tothe 900+ Tree Preservation Orders that coverboth single trees and groups of trees. TheCouncil is about to embark on a survey of allits trees to assess their condition and anyhealth and safety risk. As a result of theCouncil’s planning policies, additional treesare secured as part of developmentproposals and new trees have been plantedin the public realm as a result of a widerange of tree planting initiatives by its Parks& Open Spaces Team and the Council’sinvolvement in the partnerships, such as“Trees for Cities. This Council resolves toadopt a Tree Strategy to protect andenhance Reading's tree cover for the future.

1.4 The development of a Tree Strategy willsupport and contribute to achieving thecorporate aim of developing Reading as aGreen City with a sustainable environment andeconomy at the heart of the Thames Valley.The strategy will contribute to this aimthrough:

• Retaining and protecting existing trees with high amenity value in a suitable condition;

• Managing and maintaining the existing tree stock; and

• Facilitating, encouraging and engaging in the planting of new trees.

These activities, retaining and protecting,managing and maintaining and new plantingmake up the 3 main elements of the TreeStrategy.

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1.5 A comprehensive public consultationexercise was undertaken between 19February and 2 April 2010, the results ofwhich highlighted widespread support for thedraft Tree Strategy. Many respondentsagreed that trees have a positive impact onthe lives of those living, working and visitingReading with fundamental benefits to theurban environment. Many responsesrequested that comprehensive tree plantingbe undertaken, in particular increasing andreplacing street trees. The Council’s proposalto reverse the decline in canopy cover,particularly in large canopy trees andincrease Reading’s tree population by 10%to reduce the effects of climate changereceived positive support, but someconsidered this wasn’t going far enough andconsidered 15-25% was more appropriate.Similarly, proposals in the Strategy tointroduce a “Tree Warden” scheme inReading attracted considerable interest.Other responses were focussed aroundkeeping the public informed, protecting andrespecting Reading’s existing trees, the needfor newdevelopment to protect and integratenew trees far more, and the relationshipbetween trees and biodiversity.

2.0 CONTEXT: TREE COVER IN

READING

2.1 Reading Borough forms the core of theGreater Reading urban area and sits within asetting of rural countryside and Areas ofOutstanding Natural Beauty. Analysis ofReading’s existing tree resource indicates thatan estimated 17.8% of the Borough’s landarea is covered by tree canopies. Thiscompares with approximately 20% forLondon. Unfortunately, tree cover acrossReading is not evenly spread. There are areasof high tree population in the generally lowerdensity residential areas of CavershamHeights and Emmer Green in the north and ina number of areas in the west and south eastof Reading. However, tree cover is verysparse in parts of the Oxford Road corridor, inmany parts of Central Reading, and in the

southern and some eastern parts of theBorough. The Strategy Key Diagram attachedindicates the level of tree cover in differentparts of the Borough.

2.2 The Council is responsible for a significantnumber of trees and woodlands growing in awide range of locations e.g. in parks andwoodlands, schools, care homes, housingareas, along highways, etc. Reading containsnumerous parks and other open spaces.Parks such as Prospect, Palmer, and theThameside Promenade provide theopportunity for people to experiencewonderful concentrations of trees of variousforms, types and ages in the middle of arelatively dense urban environment. Inaddition there are prestigious open spaces ofnotable character in the centre of Readingsuch as St Mary’s Churchyard [ReadingMinster], The Forbury Gardens and StLaurence Churchyard, or nearby, such as atCaversham Court.

There are extensive networks of woodlandsand groups of trees across the Borough inboth private and public ownership. They formsignificant and distinctive landscape featuresand help to define the landscape character ofReading. The concentration of woodland andother trees on higher ground defines the veryvisible wooded ridges that are anacknowledged feature of the skyline andcharacter of Reading. Other landmark treescoincide with the generally older housingstock. Street trees have an important role inhelping to define the character of many areas;enhancing the street scene and softening thehard urban environment in a variety of areasin Reading. Trees feature significantly withinthe character and appearance of most of the15 conservation areas in the Borough. Theyalso form significant parts of the landscapealong the Thames, Kennet and Holybrookrivers, alongside the railways, and on thevarious arterial roads running into and out ofthe centre of Reading.

TREE STRATEGY FOR READING • JUNE 2010


2.3 Trees provide considerable benefits:

• They are a significant feature of thecharacter of many streets, reinforcing their scale and proportion, enhancing their attractiveness and bringing a sense of well-being to local residents;

• They screen undesirable features, enhance privacy and add greenery and colour;

• They provide habitat for wildlife and are a vital component of the town’s green infrastructure providing corridors to link green spaces;

• They improve air quality by removing gaseous air pollutants, such as ozone and nitrous oxides, and particulate matter such as soot and smoke and releasing oxygen;

• They reduce noise, particularly noise from traffic;

• They reduce surface water runoff and flooding caused by heavy rain;

• They provide shelter and shading from wind, rain and sun and reduce urban temperatures (especially important with regard to climate change adaptation);

• They are of historical importance; • They have been shown to contribute to

better mental health.

However, trees can pose risks to the general public:• Health and safety to the general public

through falling trees and branches• Subsidence damage to property• Damage to footways• Damage to underground services

These risks are compounded by the maturing and aged nature of the tree stock in the Borough.

2.4 Trees are a vital part of the attractiveness andthe image of Reading as a place. They forman important part of the street scene andskyline of the town, they contribute to theimpression of Reading at entrances to thetown from outside, they make up a large partof views of Reading from the train and along

the waterways in the Borough. They arevalued by residents and visitors and thosewho work in Reading.

2.5 Reading began its major development in the19th century supporting major employers,such as Huntley and Palmers, Sutton Seeds,various brick and tile works and SimmondsBrewery. To support these industries, rapidresidential development took place. Thisphase of the town’s evolution created itsnetwork of characteristic street tree planting.London Road, Caversham Road, KendrickRoad and numerous side roads were plantedwith stately Plane trees in the form of avenuesor were lined with Lime trees. Numerousparks, recreation grounds and open spaceswere laid out at this time, all using trees as animportant component of their design andlegacy. Today we are fortunate to benefit fromthe significant tree planting that took place inthe Victorian and Edwardian eras and, to alesser extent, in later periods.

2.6 Typical with other urban areas, tree plantingand management in Reading suffered aftereach of the world wars due to the change ofpriorities and economic conditions. PostWorld War two saw significant developmentand redevelopment with little emphasis onplanting trees. Since the 1980’s, there hasbeen an increase in tree planting with greaterappreciation of the need to protect and planttrees to enhance the appearance andattractiveness of existing and new residentialareas and of their value for biodiversity.Perhaps some of the most prominent publiclyowned trees visible to most people are streettrees, of which Reading is fortunate to haveseveral main routes and side streets linedwith traditional, large, mature specimens.During recent decades, particularly the 1980’sand early 1990’s, there has been“experimental” planting with alternativespecies selection seeking to resolve theinherent problems associated with the ageand condition of Victorian/Edwardian species.Unfortunately not all have been successful,and random varied planting has contributedto a loss of landscape character.

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2.7 Trees provide considerable benefits in termsof appearance and softening, especially inhard urban environments of high density,intensive development. They are ofimportance to wildlife, supporting a range ofspecies and providing links or steppingstones across our urban areas, contributing tothe Borough’s aims and objectives forbiodiversity, conservation and enhancementas set out in Reading Biodiversity Action Plan.Trees are important regulators and stores ofwater and help to slow surface water flowsthat can contribute to flooding. They provideshade from the sun and protection fromstrong winds.

2.8 The majority of Reading’s trees are in privateownership. The largest tree resource inReading is within private gardens andcommunal areas. Collectively these treesmake a major contribution to the landscapevalue and biodiversity of the Borough. Manyare afforded legal protection under the Townand Country Planning Act 1990 if they arewithin a Conservation Area or are subject to aTree Preservation Order. The Council has aresponsibility to protect trees on private landby serving Tree Preservation Orders. Thereare over 900 Tree Preservation Orders in theBorough.

2.9 The Council encourages the management oftrees in accordance with sound arboriculturalstandards and associated practices andresists inappropriate felling. It alsoencourages tree planting on private ownedland by providing advice and information. Asa result of the Council’s planning policies,additional trees are secured as part of newdevelopment proposals and significantnumbers of new trees have been planted inthe public realm in recent years as a result ofthe Council’s involvement in the “Trees forCities” initiative.

2.10 The Council manages and plants trees on itsown land across the Borough. It is directlyresponsible for trees alongside highways, andat parks, school grounds, care homes,cemeteries and other open spaces. The


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Council has now embarked on a survey of allits trees to assess their condition and anyhealth and safety risks. The capture ofcomprehensive information will enable theCouncil to manage its tree stock moreeffectively for future generations and satisfyits health and safety responsibilities.

2.11 In recent years there has been a steadyincrease in the numbers of street trees thathave been felled for a variety of reasons.Many of the traditional streets now havegaps emerging where replacements haven’tbeen planted. In addition, it is now rare fornew developments to include street treesadjacent the highway. Little new street treeplanting has taken place in recent years,partly because of a lack of resources butalso because of constraints due tounderground services, street furniture,limited pavement widths, highway visibilityrequirements, etc.

2.12 The Council is an active partner with the“Trees for Cities” Charity, in seeking toincrease tree cover in the Reading urbanarea. “Trees for Cities” is a charity that raisesfunds and contributions through sponsors toprovide trees and run activities related totrees. Its priorities include strategic themesthat focus on areas of low tree-cover andhigh deprivation, planting trees for food & theregeneration of street planting.

3.0 ISSUES

3.1 Tree Coverage

3.1.1 Many of the older areas of the Borough havea good coverage of trees. The inter war andearly post war suburbs of north and westReading also, generally, have good treecover. However, many of the more recentlydeveloped areas of the Borough arecharacterised by a lack of tree cover. This isparticularly marked in central Reading, insouth Reading and parts of inner westReading. Tree coverage for the Borough has

now been mapped (see separate TreeCoverage Map) and this highlights areaswhere there is poor (less than 10%) treecoverage. These areas often correspondwith areas that are acknowledged as themore deprived parts of the Borough.

3.2 The Condition of Reading!s Tree Stock

3.2.1 As we have seen in previous sections, thegreat periods of tree planting in Readingwere in the Victorian and Edwardian eras ofthe mid to late 19th Century and the earlypart of the 20th Century. Large numbers oftrees were planted in these periods in whatare now the inner areas of the Borough.They now make up the greater part of thetree resource of the town. Unfortunatelylarge numbers of these trees are nowreaching maturity and moving into old age.Increasingly these trees are becomingdiseased or are dying and needmaintenance or removal. Increasingly theyare a liability in terms of maintenance costsand, potentially, pose a health and safetyrisk.

3.2.2 This raises a number of issues:

• There is increasing tension between the need to remove older trees because of perceived risk and the desire to protect trees from unnecessary felling;

• The increased cost of on-going inspections, management and maintenance of the remaining tree stock

• Relatively little succession planting is being undertaken to ensure trees replace those that will inevitably have to be removed;

• Local authority resources for replacement and new tree planting and the essential subsequent watering and maintenance of young trees are very limited

As a consequence of the age of the treestock, large numbers of trees could need tobe removed in a relatively short space oftime in the next few years, severely affectingthe character and appearance of large parts


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3.4.2 Conversely, there is also increasing pressureon the Council to protect more trees. Thepreparation, serving and subsequentadministration of Tree Preservation Orders(TPO’s) is resource intensive. Makingadditional orders year on year adds to theresources needed to administer complaintsand applications for works or felling. TheLocal Authority needs to be more prudentabout making TPO’s and determine prioritiesfor such protection. The Tree Strategy willhelp in determining those priorities.

3.5 Areas of low tree cover

3.5.1 While many of the older parts of Reading arecharacterised by tree lined avenues and ahigh density of street trees, other parts of theBorough are almost bare of trees and as aresult have limited character. These areas willalso be less adaptable to future climatechange. They are often less affluent areaswhere residents can often not afford topurchase and maintain trees on private land.Many of these areas would benefit greatlyfrom some street tree or frontage planting.Recent tenant surveys have pointed to thedissatisfaction of residents of council houseproperties with the environment of estatesand the Council is now looking to implementtree planting, including street tree andfrontage planting, in parts of south Readingand elsewhere.

3.6 Climate Change

3.6.1 Trees have a significant role in mitigating theconsequences of climate change. Plantingtrees complements other actions to reducethe effects of the use of fossil fuels and theemissions of carbon dioxide by absorbingCO2 from the atmosphere and locking itaway for decades or even centuries. Theyhelp in buying valuable time as societymakes the transition to a low carbonlifestyle.

3.6.2 Scientific opinion is that, in general, futureyears will be hotter and dryer in summer withmilder, wetter winters. The differences could

of the town. Street trees in particular, willhave to be removed in increasing numbersfor safety reasons. This issue therefore formsa major consideration in this strategy.

3.3 Risk Management

3.3.1 Responsible governance and the health andsafety and financial risks of not managingtree stocks mean that the Council and otherorganisations are having to address the risk.Increasingly sophisticated risk managementregimes, partly driven by insurancerequirements, means that the Council andother responsible organisations are takingthe risks that trees can pose to people andproperty seriously. Reading Borough Councilhas now embarked on a long-termprogramme of methodical survey andinspection of all trees for which it isresponsible. This will provide spatialevidence of the condition and age of theCouncil’s tree stock. This action is likely tolead to the treatment and/or felling of asignificant number of trees that are nowreaching the end of their lives and whichhave become dangerous. This coulddiminish tree cover in many parts of Reading,particularly in many of its older areas.

3.4 Community Pressures

3.4.1 More than ever, trees are seen as a nuisanceby an increasing number of householders.There is constant pressure to remove treesfrom private land. There are also instancesof pressure to remove trees that are theresponsibility of the Council. Peoplecomplain about loss of light, root damage,subsidence, problems with leaf fall, the stickysubstances from Lime trees and other trees,potential damage and danger of falling treesor limbs, etc. This intolerance of trees isleading to the steady loss of trees, againusually of the larger, older trees that offer somuch to the amenity and character of anarea.


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be significant and government policy is nowpromoting adaptation to inevitable climatechange, in particular hotter temperaturesand droughts in summer, and more rain andmore extreme weather events in wintermonths.

3.6.3 Trees can make a positive contributiontowards reducing the effects of futureclimate change [extremes of weather] bydissipating the impact of heavy rainfall,reducing urban temperatures, providingshade, protection against the detrimentaleffects of sunlight and positively helping inreducing household energy bills. Thepreference will be to use large canopyspecies that provide more benefits forclimate adaptation and wildlife. There willalso be a need to use trees species that cantolerate a changing climate of extremeweather conditions, particularly highertemperatures and drier summers.

3.6.4 With a changing climate it will beincreasingly important for wildlife that greeninfrastructure, in which trees are a vitalcomponent, is linked to enable species tomove across the landscape in order to adaptto climatic conditions.

3.7 Wildlife/Biodiversity

Trees and woodlands are a vital for wildlife,providing food and habitats for invertebrates,birds and mammals, and providing habitat,links and stepping stones for the movementof wildlife across urban areas.

In an increasingly unpredictable andclimatically stressed world the value ofbiodiversity will be ever more important. Onthe other hand, climate change will speed-up the rate at which biodiversity is lost, by:

• Accelerating habitat loss: Small islands of habitats may not be able to sustain themselves;

• Causing changes in the range of species;• Effecting changes in physiology and

phenology

(timings of natural events such as bud burst);

• Leading to increased extinction rates.

It will therefore be increasingly important to both manage our woodland habitats andtrees and to provide links between them.A healthy and wildlife friendly urban treestock will be needed to facilitate movementof species across the Borough and it will beimportant to both retain and plant trees in acoordinated manner to consolidate, enhanceand extend the Borough’s greeninfrastructure. Native species support agreater diversity of wildlife than non-nativespecies. Native species should be plantedin preference to non-native species whereappropriate.There are more than 150 hectares ofwoodland across the Borough. Forcenturies, woodlands were traditionallymanaged for timber, charcoal and firewood.At the turn of the 20th Century, demand forhome grown woodland products decreasedand traditional woodland managementdeclined. This has had a detrimental impacton biodiversity.Traditionally managed woodlands have agreater diversity of plants and animals thanunmanaged woodlands with different plantsand animals relying on the diversity ofhabitats it produces for all or part of their lifecycles. This decline in woodlandmanagement has greatly decreased thevalue of our woodlands for biodiversity andis probably the most important threat to ourwoodlands. It will be important to ensurethat our woodlands are managed. TheCouncil, in consultation with NaturalEngland, The Forestry Commission and theBerkshire Nature Conservation Forum isprogressing the production andimplementation of woodland managementplans.Veteran or Ancient trees are of significantbiodiversity and cultural value; they providedeadwood, an important habitat forinvertebrates and fungi, roosting sites forbats and nesting sites for birds and are a link


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to our past. There will be a need to identifyand protect our veteran trees and tomanage them appropriately.Standing and fallen deadwood is animportant habitat for invertebrates andfungi and the birds and mammals that feedon them. There will be a need to retainstanding and fallen deadwood where healthand safety considerations allow.In addition to woodlands Reading alsohosts a number of other important habitats,particularly grassland areas such as theKennet Valley Meadows. it will beimportant to ensure that tree plantingschemes do not have a detrimental impacton these habitats.

3.7.1 Trees are a vital component of the biosphereand numerous plants, animals and fungidepend upon them. They host numerousinvertebrate species and provide food forbirds, bats and other vertebrates andprovide nesting and roosting sites. Standingand fallen deadwood is important for anumber of specialist invertebrates and fungiand can be of particular biodiversityimportance.

3.7.2 As a result of climate change, the urbanenvironment is likely to become more harshand unfriendly for the survival of manyspecies that contribute to the biodiversity ofReading. It is important to retain andprotect existing trees for the value that theyprovide as habitat. New tree planting of theright type can help the survival of speciesand the development of new habitats. Treesare also an important component of greeninfrastructure links which are now beingpromoted as an aid to diversity of species inthe Borough. It will be important to retainand plant groups and lines of trees to linkand enhance areas of biodiversity value andthus enable species to thrive. The prioritiesfor such planting will be indicated on theReading Borough Local DevelopmentFramework Proposals Map which is due tobe published in the early part of 2010.

3.8 Trees and Development

3.8.1 Although the Council operates strongplanning policies that seek to protect treeson development sites and to achieve newplanting as part of new developments,developers tend to resist the allocation ofreasonable amounts of space forlandscaping and tree planting, particularlyin the high density forms of developmentthat have occurred in recent years. There isa need to develop policies, proposals andpractices that achieve better levels of treeplanting and landscaping in all newdevelopment. New development shouldinclude the provision of new street orfrontage tree planting, particularly in orderto balance the impact of more intensivedevelopment.


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3.9 Street Trees

3.9.1 Planting and establishing urban street treeson or close to the highway presents variouschallenges: competition for space onpavements, poor soil, vandalism, reflectedheat, drought, effects on visibility, streetlighting, etc. They need considerablemaintenance, certainly in the early years following planting if trees are to becomeestablished. There will continue to beconcerns over matters such as rootlifting/damage of carriageways andfootways, damage to highway drains andunderground services, autumn leaf falls,etc. Replacement is costly. Despite theconsiderable benefits that they bring, thesetrees can be viewed as liabilities withconsiderable longer term resourceimplications.

3.9.2 On the other hand, as outlined previously,there is growing pressure to take positiveaction to reinstate street trees for theirnumerous environmental and associatedbenefits. This strategy is intended toprovide a clear approach to develop,protect, replant and enhance street trees inthe Borough.

3.10 Resources for Tree Planting

3.10.1 The Council is investing in conditionsurveys and is creating an inventory of itsown tree stock and this involves necessaryexpenditure. Maintenance requirementsresulting from tree inspections will absorbexisting budgets. The local authoritycurrently does not have identified budgetsfor planting new trees. It is thereforeimportant that all alternative sources offunding for tree planting and futuremaintenance are explored.

3.10.2 The Council is working with “Trees forCities” and with various other partners tocarry out targeted tree planting in theBorough in addition to, for example,continuing to undertake a wide range of

tree planting initiatives by its Parks & OpenSpaces Team. The Council has alsoembarked on projects that seek to improvethe environment of areas of the Council’sown housing stock. Tree planting is soughtfrom new developments as appropriate vialandscaping requirements and legalagreements. However, funding from thesesources is currently limited. There iscurrently no clear policy on how theselimited resources should be spent or whatthe priorities should be. It is intended thatthis tree strategy should set out what thepriorities for the use of limited resourceswill be. Officers will continue the currentsuccessful working to developprogrammes, projects and partnershipsthrough the “Trees for Cities” Initiative.

3.10.3 In addition there is a need to find, obtainand use other resources for treemaintenance and planting. There areopportunities to use the voluntary sectorand local communities, possibly in a treewarden scheme. Could such wardens beutilised as an extra resource to helpmanage our trees in the future? Shouldopportunities for local communityinvolvement be initiated and developed?The Tree Council initiative from severalyears ago, in which several local authoritiesparticipated, provides a model for workingwith the community. The Housing Sectionis currently planting a large number of treesin parts of their estate as part of the DecentNeighbourhoods improvement works.Community volunteers are being used tocarry out much of this planting.

3.11 Management of the Council!s Tree Stock

3.11.1 A review of how the Council manages itstree stock needs to take place alongsidethe adoption of the Tree Strategy to providethe most efficient and effectivemanagement of the Council’s tree stock. A consistent approach to tree managementneeds to be rolled out across all services/directorates of the Council. An associated


1 www.communities.gov.uk 2 Trees in Towns 2, DCLG, 2007 3 A Strategy for England’s Trees, Woods and Forests, Natural England,Forestry Commission, June 2007 4 Dec 2008

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management plan will set out how theCouncil will manage the tree stock in thefuture.

3.12 Utilising Tree By-Products

3.13.1 Being responsible for a significant numberof trees, the Council generatesconsiderable amounts of by-products in theform of woodchips and wood. Recycling oftree by-products has commonly turnedtrunks into seats, sculptures and playequipment, together with creating wildlifehabitats from standing timber and lyingwood. The Council must act responsibly inutilising and recycling its tree by-productsin a variety of ways. Burning and/or landfillare no longer an option. Trials have beenundertaken to recycle surplus woodchipfrom tree operations to provide bio-fuel asa renewable energy product. Wood canalso be made available for other forms ofwood recycling such as by the artistcommunity or in training schemes.Revenue from these trials has contributedtowards new planting of trees under the“Trees for Cities” Partnership and for otherstrategic tree planting. This is a processthat could be developed further to providean increased income. The Council is indiscussion with operators to explore thepotential of such provision.

4.0 NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND

LOCAL POLICY CONTEXT

4.1 National Policy

4.1.2 The Department of Communities and LocalGovernment (DCLG) publishes variousguidance and best practice in relation totrees, landscaping and climate change. TheDCLG website1 indicates that not only dotrees make places more attractive, but theyalso provide valuable habitats for wildlife,improve the air we breathe, help to conserve

energy and much more. DCLG supports theplanting of new trees and promotes bestpractice to ensure the survival of newlyplanted trees and ensure the efficient use ofresources. DCLG sponsor programmeswhich involve tree planting as part of a widerstrategy to improve where we live and work.It encourages tree planting as part of itsurban design advice and advice in makingplaces. These themes are picked up by otherquasi government organisations such asCABE (Commission for Architecture and theBuilt Environment), which encourages treeplanting as part of “place shaping” andenhancing the public realm.

4.1.3 In 2008 the Government’s response to apetition to 10 Downing Street recognised themany benefits that street trees can bring toan area and accepted the findings of the2008 DCLG report, “Trees in Towns 2 ”, thatthere had been a decline in the number ofold, large trees and that the rate of newplanting has fallen2.” The aim of this surveywas to provide up-to-date information on thenational urban tree stock and urban treemanagement by Local Authorities. Thesurvey identified that 52% of LocalAuthorities had some type of strategy thatwas relevant to trees and woodlands thatembraced the entire district. The extent oftree strategies had significantly increasedsince the original survey of 1997. Forexample, of the 33 London Boroughs, 23have either produced a tree strategy/policyor are in the process of doing so.

4.1.4 The Highways Act 1980 empowers thehighway authority to plant trees. ‘Well-Maintained Highways: Code of Practice forHighway Maintenance Management’ issuedby the Department for Transport in July 2005,Section 9.13.1, refers to the co-operationrequired between different parties ‘topreserve and enhance the range and qualityof street trees.’ ‘Trees and planting should

5 This includes BS 3998, “Recommendations for Tree Work,” BS: 5837:2005 “Trees in Relation to Construction,” HSE, BS 4428 “Code of Practice for 6 General Landscape Operations” and NJUG 11/07.


6 Forestry Commission – A forestry and Woodlands Framework For South East England, “Seeing The

Wood For The Trees” 2004

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reflect the history, architecture and traditionof places. Small pockets of poor qualityplanting can undermine the quality of thestreetscape.’ Section 9.13.3 reinforces theimportance of ‘a policy for the installation,management, removal and replacement ofhighway trees and landscaping.’

4.1.5 A Strategy for England’s Trees, Woods andForests3 sets out the Government’s visionand priorities for England’s tree andwoodland resource, in both rural and urbanareas, over the next fifty years. The strategyprovides a national policy direction, whichwill be developed by Natural England andthe Forestry Commission.

4.1.6 The strategy identifies five key aims forgovernment intervention in tree planting,woods and forests:• to secure trees and woodlands for future

generations;• to ensure resilience to climate change;• to protect and enhance natural resources;• to increase the contribution that trees,

woods and forest make to our quality of life; and

• to improve the competitiveness of woodland business and products.

4.1.7 The Delivery Plan for England’s Trees, Woodsand Forests Strategy4 sets out what needs tobe done to achieve the aims of the strategy:

• Building connections between ideas, partners and resources;

• Removing barriers to securer benefits more easily;

• Targeting resources to where there is need;• Integrating delivery for greater efficiency• Supporting effective market based

approaches.Various best practice is published by DCLG5.

4.1.8 Public policy is now addressing the issue ofclimate change and, as we have seen, treeshave an important role not only in relation toabsorbing and storing carbon emissions but

also in providing cooling, reducing energybills, shade and water dissipation to helpadaptation to inevitable climate change.Existing and emerging national policy wouldsuggest that a high priority should be givento retaining and protecting trees, managingand maintaining trees and to planting newtrees in urban areas. England’s BiodiversityStrategy stresses the importance of trees tobiodiversity. This is also emphasised in theBiodiversity Action Plans that coverBerkshire and Reading6.

4.2 Regional Policy

4.2.1 The South East Plan makes reference to TheRegional Forestry and WoodlandsFramework, which highlights the importanceof trees6. This framework recognises thebenefits that woods offer the region andindicates that their value and contributionwill decline without action to secure theirfuture. It sets out a vision for woodlands tomake an increasing contribution to thesustainable development of the South Eastregion, in both rural and urban areas. Inparticular it wants to see: • Trees and woodlands supporting the

development of sustainable communities;• improved access to woodlands to assist

the health and wellbeing of local communities;

• Greater use being made of trees and woodlands for community projects and activities;

• Woodlands enhancing and protecting the region’s environment, together with safeguards for the heritage within them;

• Woodland habitats and species being brought into good ecological condition;

• Increases in the economic value of woodland;

• A greater role for woodlands in attracting tourism, inward investment and other economic activity;

• Woodlands and trees, especially ancient woodlands and veteran trees, being protected from loss;


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4.3.2 The Open Spaces Strategy refers to treeplanting as part of the improvement inquality of open spaces and theirmanagement for biodiversity. There are nowritten or explicit policies governing trees ortree planting elsewhere in the Council. Treesare a significant responsibility in terms ofhighways, parks, schools, the council’s landholdings, etc., but at present there are noguiding principles related to theirmanagement and replacement, other than toact responsibly.

5.0 VISION

5.1 The Council!s Vision for trees in Reading is:

Trees will play a vital role in achieving

the City 2020 Vision of Reading as a

Green City with a sustainable

environment and economy at the heart

of the Thames Valley. Looking beyond

2020, Reading will have an increasing

population of healthy trees. The decline

in canopy cover in the Borough will be

reversed and increased by 10% by 2030

in line with period of the Council’s new

Sustainable Community Strategy. Trees

will be protected, managed and planted

to retain their strong contribution to

defining and reinforcing the landscape

character of the town. In addition, its

river valleys, wooded ridges,

woodlands, parks and open spaces,

play an essential role in conserving the

Victorian and Edwardian character of

many parts of the town, particularly in

designated conservation areas and in

safeguarding and enhancing the quality

and amenity of public spaces and the

residential areas of the town.

• Integrated, strategic planning of woodland management;

• Improving the skills base needed to manage woodlands;

• Increasing public awareness about woodlands and their management

• More security in relation to the financial viability of woodland management

4.2.2 The Mayor of London’s Street Treeprogramme is committed to making Londona greener city and has provided funding for10,000 street trees over the next 4 years.Local Authorities that are also addressingthe challenge include:

Various London Boroughs; Newcastle City Council; Bristol City Council; Wycombe District Council;Manchester City Council;Rochford District Council.

4.3 Local Policy Context.

The development of a Tree Strategy willcontribute to achieving the 2020 Vision ofthe development of Reading as a Green Citywith a sustainable environment andeconomy at the heart of the Thames Valley.The strategy will contribute to this aimthrough protecting existing trees with highamenity value and facilitating andencouraging the planting of new trees.

4.3.1 The Reading Borough LDF Core Strategycontains a policy (CS38) that seeks toprotect trees and woodlands. Policy CS7refers to Design and the Public Realm withinwhich landscape plays an important role,particularly in relation to the public realm.A Sites and Detailed Policies Document thatwas published in early 2010, containspolicies that seek to implement this TreeStrategy, in terms of landscaping inassociation with new development, assistingbiodiversity and adapting to climate change.


Working with partners and

stakeholders to maximise resources,

trees will be protected, managed and

planted to enhance quality of life and

well being, to provide for biodiversity,

to contribute to the planned

regeneration of parts of the town and

to contribute to objectives on carbon

reduction and adaptation to climate

change. Through awareness raising, all

sections of the community will respect

and value the role of trees within the

urban environment.

6.0 OBJECTIVES OF THE

STRATEGY

6.1 It is essential that trees are properly managedin accordance with clear objectives andpolicies. The Strategy aims to provide astrategic approach to managing andenhancing Reading’s tree cover that links theCouncil’s overall vision with other strategiesand initiatives to improve the quality of placeand life in Reading. We have seen from theanalysis above, trees play an important role inthe landscape character of Reading, in theamenity and character of individual areaswithin the Borough, in maintaining andenhancing biodiversity and increasingly incombating climate change. The Tree Strategywill seek, subject to available resources, toachieve the following objectives:

Objective 1:Managing the Council!s tree stock

• The Council’s priority will be to continue itsprogramme of comprehensive survey toestablish the age and condition of its treeresource in order that it can assess risk anddevelop a proportionate approach tomanaging its tree stock, within the contextof the remaining objectives of the TreeStrategy. Parks and Open Spaces Section

15

will continue to carry out appropriate treeplanting on its land in accordance with thepolicies and priorities of adopted TreeStrategy.

Objective 2: Protecting and enhancing important landscape

features.

The Council will seek to prioritise theprotection, maintenance and planting of treesthat contribute to:• Maintaining the important landscape

characteristics of Reading, namely the river valleys, wooded ridges, woodlands, open spaces and public spaces of the town;

• Preserving and enhancing the character and appearance of the environment of areas of the town, particularly designated conservation areas, and the amenity of other areas where trees are a notable and important characteristic of the local environment;

• Enhancing the appearance of the Central Area of Reading, particularly its various public realm;

• Enhancing the appearance of important transport routes and corridors

• Maintaining and increasing canopy cover in the Borough by 10% in the period up to 2030.

However, the Council cannot achieve theobjectives of this strategy on it’s own. Limitedpublic funds will need to be supplemented byalternative funding streams and voluntary/community action if the vision of a city oftrees is to be achieved.

Objective 3: Enhancing areas lacking tree cover.

While the Strategy prioritises the protectionand enhancement of existing tree-basedenvironments, it also recognises that someareas of the town suffer a lack of greeninfrastructure and an often relatively poorenvironment resulting from a distinct lack oftrees and character. Tree planting wouldenhance the appearance of the environment


16

Objective 6:The role of new developments.

New development will be expected to makea positive and sustainable contributionsupporting the objectives of this strategy inenhancing Reading’s urban environment.Such planting should be used to enhancestreets and other public realm as part ofplanning permissions for all relevant newdevelopments, particularly in higher densityurban developments.

Objective 7: Public awareness of trees

Engaging the public, raising awareness,providing information on tree issues.Increasingly, the benefits that trees provideto the wider community are becoming moreappreciated. With increasing concerns overthe need to maintain and enhance the qualityof the urban environment, adapt to climatechange and promote biodiversity, the Counciland key stakeholders have a role in raisingthe profile of the importance of protecting,maintaining and planting new trees inenhancing the quality of life and well-being ofits residents. The Council will consult and inform thepublic on controversial proposals with regardto felling, maintenance and planting. As partof it’s Action Plan, the council will prepare aconsultation procedure in relation to treematters. In line with Objective 7 the “action”in the Action Plan proposes to introduce anddevelop a dedicated page on the Council’swebsite for all the Council’s trees issues andresponsibilities. The Council will continue tolook at consultation practices to providemore information and consultation in respectof proposed planting, maintenance andfelling operations.In addition the Council and its partners willseek to raise awareness and promote theimportance of trees in enhancing the qualityof life and well-being of the widercommunity, particularly in the context ofclimate change. A dedicated page on treeissues will be developed on the council’swebsite by the end of 2011.

of these areas, in cases helping in theregeneration of housing estates, as well asbringing benefits in terms of biodiversity andadaptation to climate change.When opportunities arise, such as newdevelopment, identifying suitable locationsfor new tree planting will be directed toenhancing the appearance and environmentof identified residential areas with very lowlevels of tree cover, particularly where thoseareas are identified as in need of widerregeneration.

Objective 4:Enhancing Biodiversity

The Council will seek to ensure that themanagement of its tree stock andwoodlands is enhanced by:• Protecting trees and woodlands,

particularly ancient or veteran trees and important woodlands;

• Writing and implementing woodland management plans;

• Conserving, enhancing and extending existing green corridors and creating new ones to enhance the borough’s green infrastructure;

• Ensuring that native and wildlife friendly species of trees are used in new planting schemes in most cases;

• Retaining standing and fallen dead wood habitat for biodiversity where health and safety and amenity considerations allow.

Objective 5:

Climate Adaptation

Where resources allow, and wherepracticable, the Council will seek to ensurethe protection, maintenance and planting oftrees to contribute to sequestering carbondioxide/CO2 and to help to adapt to thepredicted effects of future climate change.This will be achieved through strategic treeplanting, selecting species that are tolerantof higher temperatures, require low levels ofongoing maintenance and with large canopycover to maximise benefits.


17

Objective 8:Securing the resources to deliver the strategy

The Council is well placed to champion treesand to lever additional funding and supportacross a range of potential sources tomaximise opportunities to fulfil the objectivesof the strategy. There is a need to developalternative sources to public sector fundingto provide financial resources for treemaintenance and planting. In particular thecouncil needs to build on the excellent workthat has been undertaken in partnership with“Trees for Cities” and other various partnersin recent years. There is also a need to buildup relationships with the voluntary sectorand local communities as resources forplanting and maintaining trees in local areas,providing not only enhancements of localenvironments but also learning and socialactivities that can contribute to capacitybuilding in those areas.The Council will explore setting up anddeveloping partnerships with fundingsources and along with voluntary andcommunity groups seek to increaseresources for tree planting including a treewarden scheme.

Objective 9:Manage tree waste and by-products.

Proactively utilise and re-cycle tree by-products to include use of timber in thecommunity by artists and other groups andproviding material for creating bio-energy.The Council will continue to work to improvethe sustainability of its tree operations.

7.0 POLICY

7.1 PROTECTION AND RETENTION

7.1.1 Statutory protection of treesThe Council will use its powers under theTown and Country Planning Act to makeTree Preservation Orders in respect of treesof high amenity value, where they are ofsuitable health and condition and particularlywhere they are under imminent threat ofdamage or felling. In making Tree

Preservation Orders, the Council willpartivularly seek to protect trees in the areasthat this strategy indicates are priorities fortree retention, that is:• Areas where there is 10% or less canopy

cover• Conservation Areas;• Wooded ridges;• River Valleys;• Areas of importance to future biodiversity

including identified green corridors and links;

• Along identified green routes and corridors;• Other identified areas where trees make a

notable and important contribution to the amenity of the area.

7.1.2 The Council will not normally grant consentfor work to a tree protected by a TreePreservation Order unless it is satisfied that itis necessary and justified on arboricultural,health and/or safety grounds or is satisfiedfor another legitimate reason. The proposedremoval or pruning of trees that are healthybut which are the centre of complaint, e.g.loss of TV/satellite signal, bird mess, honeydew, loss of light, leaf/fruit fall, will not beconsidered a legitimate reason unless thereis an overriding justification and there is noalternative management possible.

7.1.3 Retention of TreesThe Planning Authority will use its powers toachieve satisfactory retention of appropriatetrees within development propsals, includingthe service of Tree Preservation Orders andwill promote “Best Practice” on integratingtrees within the development and designprocess.Within its own estate, the Council willnormally seek to retain trees unless the lossis justified on arboricultural grounds, the treeposes an unacceptable risk to people orproperty, or is causing unacceptable damageto structures and infrastructure includingunderground services or is part of a treemanagement plan prepared in accordancewith current best professional practice.


18

resource should be seen as a potentialsource of revenue with a multitude of usesincluding materials for sculpture and otherneeds of the artistic community, wood fortraining schemes, wood turning etc. Wherepracticable, all proceeds from arisings andother forms of recycling will be used in themaintenance and planting of trees.Where deemed cost effective, the Councilwill re-use and recycle any suitable timberand resulting woodchips and will work inpartnership with such organisations asThames Valley BioEnergy to supply surplustimber and woodchips to local biomassboilers and heat and power stations, whereappropriate, for renewable energy. Creation of potential wildlife habitats will beundertaken where appropriate by leavingtimber and branches safely on site. Trunks offelled trees will continue to be used to createnatural play for children.

7.3 TREE PLANTING

7.3.1 Street tree replantingWithin the context of available resources, thefollowing areas will be the priorities for newtree planting:• Areas where there is 10% or less canopy

cover• in designated conservation areas: • other areas where highway trees are

acknowledged as an integral feature of the character of the area;

• on the wooded ridges which are a distinctive part of the landscape character of Reading;

• where trees contribute to a defined “green corridor”, which might be a main or secondary route (A, B or C classified road) or to a defined green infrastructure link between open spaces;

Other identified areas where trees make a notable and important contribution to the amenity of the area particularly where the loss of street trees results in a significant gap or gaps;All stakeholders, the Council, developers,the voluntary sector, residents and othersshould have regard to these priorities.

7.2 MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

7.2.1 The Council has recently commenced asurvey of its own trees as part of itsapproach to managing its treeresponsibilities. This will provide detailedinformation on the age and condition of itstree resource and will enable the Council toproperly prioritise the management of thetrees for which it has direct responsibility. Itwill also assist the Council to fulfil its legal“duty of care” with regard to health andsafety. The Council will manage and maintainits tree stock to sound arboriculturalpractices and recognised “best practice”.

7.2.2 BiodiversityThe Council will maintain and manage itsown trees and woodlands to ensure thattheir biodiversity and nature conservationvalue is maximised. It will achieve this by:

• Protecting important trees• Conserving, enhancing, consolidating and

extending the green corridor network• Using native and wildlife friendly species in

planting schemes in most cases• Implementing woodland management plans• Retaining standing and fallen deadwood

where appropriate• Identifying veteran trees, protecting and

managing them appropriatelyIt will encourage others stakeholders acrossthe borough to adopt this approach

7.2.3 Climate changeThe Council acknowledges the contributionand role that trees can play in reducing theeffects of climate change. Therefore it willutilise the benefits they can provide e.g.reduction in household energy bills, provisionof shade, reducing effects of heavy rain,reducing urban temperature, filteringpollution and will plant and manage existingtrees accordingly to maximise these benefits.

7.2.4 Recycling of timber arisingsThe Council will investigate the creation of a“Wood Station” to process all arisings fromtree work for a variety of purposes. This


19TREE STRATEGY FOR READING • JUNE 2010

7.3.2 Street tree replanting will be undertaken

in accordance with the above priorities,

subject to the following constraints:

• it should not unacceptably contravene highway safety requirements and standards;

• it should not unacceptably compromise underground drains, utilities or other services

• it should not prevent a tree becoming properly established because of inappropriate location, inadequate soils, poor ground conditions, impact of services or other factors that would prevent its natural growth.

7.3.3 The Council’s Residential Estates

When opportunities arise, the Council willdevelop a sustainable tree planting plan withparticular emphasis on those parts of itsresidential estate that are identified forimprovement/regeneration and where treesare largely absent at present. Tree plantingin these areas will seek to improve theappearance and environment of the areawith opportunities to provide street trees inappropriate locations. Opportunities will betaken to use trees to enhance the publicrealm in these areas. Planting will beundertaken to enhance biodiversity in theseareas and particularly to improve thecapability of these areas to adapt topredicted climate change, such as throughusing large canopy species to provide shade.

7.3.4 The Council!s non residential estateReading Borough Council is responsible forthe care and management of public treesgrowing in a variety of situations. Apart fromstreet trees, the Council is responsible fortrees growing in parks and open spaces. Inaddition, the Council is responsible for otherland under its administration such asschools, employment areas, care homes andvarious other land holdings. It needs todevelop policies in relation to tree retention,maintenance and new planting, includingsuccession planting in relation to thesevarious non residential holdings. Parks andOpen Spaces Section will continue to carry

out appropriate tree planting on its land inaccordance with aims and priorities of TheTree Strategy.

7.3.5 Planting on new development sitesThe Draft Sites and Detailed PoliciesDocument that was published early 2010,contain policies that refer to trees in relationto a range of matters including design,climate change and green infrastructure.These policies refer to the provision of treesincluding street trees as part of the designand layout of sites and in landscapingproposals.New development increases the pressure ongreen infrastructure and it is reasonable toexpect new development to incorporate newtrees within the boundary of a site, whereverpossible. The Local Planning Authority willcontinue to secure tree planting as part oflandscaping schemes associated with newdevelopment proposals where appropriate.The Local Planning Authority will exercise itspowers to require replacements for trees tobe planted in landscaping schemes orprotected by a Tree Preservation Orderunless there are valid reasons why it shouldnot to do so.

7.3.6 New street tree plantingWhere feasible, the Council will considerselective new street planting in areasidentified as deficient in tree cover, wheresuch planting will enhance the character andappearance of the area and provide valuableshading. However, the highway can behighly constrained and not always suitablefor new tree planting. This may be achievedon Council land other than that directlyadjacent to the highway.

7.3.7 Individual trees should normally be

planted:

• So that they do not unduly obstruct the footpath/footway/pavement, normally the minimum walking width should be 1.8m wide;

• Where possible along the line of party walls so that they don’t stand directly in front of windows or gates;

20 TREE STRATEGY FOR READING • JUNE 2010

• So that they are spaced not less than 8 metres apart along the street;

• So that they do not unacceptably obstruct or interfere with light from street lights, CCTV, road signs and other equipment such as cycle stands or bus shelters;

• So that they do not unacceptably foul or damage overhead cables or underground services or structures;

• So that they do not unacceptably obstruct sightlines for road users at junctions, pedestrian crossings and traffic lights;

• So that they do not unacceptably obstruct vehicle entrances, crossovers and garages.

7.3.8 Planting design and implementationIn designing schemes involving new treeplanting, priority should be given to thosenative species that are more drought tolerantand more likely to withstand and mitigate theeffects of climate change and to adopt theprinciple of “The right tree in the right place”.However there are occasions when otherspecies are more appropriate, such as less

tolerant native species, although long-termthey may be less successful. Fruit trees willalso be appropriate in many locations andshould be encouraged where there is theprospect of ongoing management andmaintenance. Trees should be planted usingmodern planting techniques with the aim ofavoiding future problems inherent within anurban area such as future damage tounderground services, pavements, nearbystructures, infrastructure etc. Trees shouldbe planted where they will provide greatesteffect for shading and cooling. Anassociated planting plan will be prepared toaccompany this Strategy that will identifypriority areas for planting and otherassociated information.

7.3.9 Monitoring and ReviewThe Council will carry out annual monitoringagainst the Tree Strategy Action Plan andwill periodically review the Strategy when themonitoring shows that such review isappropriate.


8.1

The im

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nd t

he

exerc

ise o

f addit

ional

contr

ols

over

trees

in

its

15 C

onse

rvati

on

Are

as.

On-g

oin

g

On-g

oin

g

Exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

Exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

This

task

is

curr

entl

y u

ndert

aken b

y

Pla

nnin

g a

nd B

uildin

g C

ontr

ol,

support

ed

by L

egal

Serv

ices

This

task

is

curr

entl

y u

ndert

aken m

ain

ly b

y

the P

ark

s T

eam


O

bje

cti

ve

Acti

on

M

eans

of

imple

menta

tion

Tim

esc

ale

R

eso

urc

e

scope/I

ssues

Resp

onsi

bilit

y

adopti

ng a

cult

ure

of

reta

inin

g t

rees

unle

ss

rem

oval

or

work

is

necess

ary

on a

rbori

cult

ura

l or

sound m

anagem

ent

gro

unds

Pro

mote

/aw

are

ness

/advic

e

thro

ughout

the p

rivate

secto

r and i

ndiv

idual

landow

ners

Develo

p p

art

ners

hip

wit

h

oth

er

majo

r la

nd o

wners

, busi

ness

es,

org

anis

ati

ons

Acti

vely

pro

mote

the

benefi

ts o

f tr

ees

in

the u

rban

envir

onm

ent

and

pro

vid

e a

ppro

pri

ate

advic

e t

o t

he g

enera

l

publi

c

Cre

ate

a “

Readin

g

Tre

e P

art

ners

hip

” o

f in

tere

sted p

art

ies

and

stakehold

ers

wit

h

agenda t

o r

ais

e t

he

pro

file

of

trees

in

Readin

g b

y

pro

tecti

on,

managem

ent

and

pla

nti

ng

On-g

oin

g +

develo

p

acti

on p

lan

1 Y

ear

Exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

Exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

Park

s and P

lannin

g

Pro

tect

trees

that

con

trib

ute

to

ward

s Bio

div

ers

ity

Tre

es

are

ess

enti

al

in

main

tain

ing a

nd e

nhancin

g

the B

oro

ugh’s

bio

div

ers

ity

Pro

tect

habit

ats

,

part

icula

rly t

hose

of

pro

tecte

d s

pecie

s on

Council

land a

nd

thro

ugh t

he P

lannin

g

pro

cess

On-g

oin

g

Exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

Pla

nnin

g/Park

s/contr

acto

rs

26

O

bje

cti

ve

Acti

on

M

eans

of

imple

menta

tion

Tim

esc

ale

R

eso

urc

e

scope/I

ssues

Resp

onsi

bilit

y

MA

NA

GE A

ND

MA

INT

AIN

Surv

ey o

f R

BC

tr

ee s

tock

Undert

ake a

pri

ori

tise

d

condit

ion a

nd r

isk

ass

ess

ment

Pri

ori

tise

surv

ey

accord

ing t

o

risk

ra

ting,

captu

re i

nfo

on b

esp

oke s

oft

ware

, ta

ke a

ppro

pri

ate

H

and S

acti

on,

use

info

to

manage t

ree s

tock

in f

utu

re

Surv

ey

com

menced

spri

ng 2

009

– on-g

oin

g

Fundin

g identi

fied,

Tre

e

Surv

eyor

and T

ree g

ang

appoin

ted.

2 y

ear

pro

gra

mm

e u

nderw

ay.

Reso

urc

es

wil

l be n

eeded

to c

arr

y o

ut

rem

edia

l w

ork

s id

enti

fied.

Once

id

enti

fied,

work

s of

an

urg

ent

healt

h a

nd s

afe

ty

natu

re w

ill

have t

o b

e

act

ioned.

Park

s T

eam

Cre

ate

Wood

Sta

tion

Identi

fy s

uit

able

locati

on

wit

h h

ard

standin

g f

or

stora

ge o

f w

oodchip

, cord

wood,

tree t

runks,

etc

. to

uti

lise

by-p

roducts

in a

vari

ety

of

ways,

wit

h

adequate

access

and s

pace

to p

rocess

mate

rial.

Explo

re o

pti

ons

available

to

maxim

ise t

he b

enefi

ts [

inclu

din

g r

evenue]

of

this

re

sourc

e.

Consu

lt a

ll

dir

ecto

rate

s/se

rvic

es,

part

icula

rly t

he

Sust

ain

abilit

y T

eam

and T

ham

es

Vall

ey

Bio

energ

y t

o c

reate

basi

c w

ood s

tati

on t

o

manage,

seaso

n a

nd

pro

cess

by-p

roducts

at

a s

uit

able

venue

1 y

ear

No s

pecif

ic f

undin

g

identi

fied o

ther

than

exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es.

Part

ners

hip

/gra

nt/

pri

vate

fundin

g/re

venue

Park

s

TV E

nerg

y,

council r

enew

able

energ

y a

ims,

revenue,

avoid

s la

ndfi

ll/burn

ing,

pla

y b

uild

init

iati

ve,

BA

P h

abit

ats

etc

Intr

od

ucti

on

of

the

Tre

e W

ard

en

Sche

me

Set

up a

local

netw

ork

of

the T

ree C

ouncil’s

Tre

e

Ward

ens,

to b

e

adm

inis

tere

d/co-o

rdin

ate

d

by t

he C

ouncil

.

As

coord

inato

r, t

he

Council

would

org

anis

e W

ard

ens

to

gath

er

info

rmati

on

about

their

local

trees,

get

involv

ed i

n

local

tree m

att

ers

and

encoura

ge l

ocal

pra

cti

cal

pro

jects

to

do w

ith t

rees

and

woods.

1 Y

ear

Tre

e C

ouncil

mem

bers

hip

is

£250 p

er

annum

. W

ill

requir

e i

nput

from

exis

ting s

taff

to c

o-

ord

inate

/develo

p

Ward

ens

and s

et

task

s

Park

s/Pla

nnin

g


O

bje

cti

ve

Acti

on

M

eans

of

imple

menta

tion

Tim

esc

ale

R

eso

urc

e

scope/I

ssues

Resp

onsi

bilit

y

Intr

od

uce

“one

-

stop

-sh

op”

appro

ach

for

all

pri

vate

an

d p

ub

lic

tree i

nq

uir

ies

[sim

ilar

to 1

.

above b

ut

pri

mari

ly f

or

tele

phone a

nd

em

ail

enq

uir

ies]

Est

ablish

a h

ub f

or

deali

ng

wit

h a

ll t

ree e

nquir

ies

and

info

rmati

on

Uti

lise

dedic

ate

d a

rea

of

RBC

websi

te f

or

trees

to p

rovid

e

info

rmati

on a

nd

conta

ct

deta

ils

Uti

lise

call c

entr

e

pro

cess

to d

eal w

ith

tree e

nquir

es,

FAQ

’s

etc

1 Y

ear

and 1

Year

+

No s

pecif

ic f

undin

g

identi

fied o

ther

than

exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

Park

s/Pla

nnin

g/C

all C

entr

e

Manage

men

t Pla

n

of

RBC

tre

e s

tock

Pre

para

tion o

f a p

lan t

hat

state

s how

the c

ouncil

’s

trees

are

managed a

nd

main

tain

ed

A m

anagem

ent

pla

n

that

guid

es

RBC

sta

ff

and i

nfo

rms

the p

ubli

c

to d

em

onst

rate

that

the C

ouncil

is

a

resp

onsi

ble

org

anis

ati

on

undert

akin

g t

his

duty

,

com

ply

ing w

ith s

ound

arb

ori

cult

ura

l pra

cti

ces

and s

tandard

s

1 Y

ear

Exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

Pla

nnin

g/Park

s

PLA

NT

Tre

e P

lan

ting P

lan

Pre

pare

a c

om

pre

hensi

ve

stra

tegic

pla

nti

ng p

lan

Identi

fy s

uit

able

pri

ori

tise

d l

ocati

ons

[focuss

ing o

n d

epri

ved

are

as]

, sp

ecie

s se

lecti

on [

part

icula

rly

for

cli

mate

adapta

tion],

work

w

ith p

art

ners

and

oth

er

local

org

anis

ati

ons

End o

f 2010

No s

pecif

ic f

undin

g

identi

fied o

ther

than

lim

ited s

treet

tree

pla

nti

ng o

ver

2 y

ears

, exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

+ p

art

ners

hip

fundin

g.

[Develo

p

part

ners

hip

s, t

rees

for

cit

ies,

pri

vate

fundin

g,

Secti

on 1

06 a

nd a

dopt-

a-

tree s

chem

e[?

].

Exis

ting

staff

and r

eso

urc

es]

Pla

nnin

g/Park

s/H

ighw

ays/

Part

ners


O

bje

cti

ve

Acti

on

M

eans

of

imple

menta

tion

Tim

esc

ale

R

eso

urc

e

scope/I

ssues

Resp

onsi

bilit

y

Tre

e P

lan

ting

[Park

s &

Ope

n

Spaces]

Popula

te p

ark

s and o

pen

spaces

to p

rovid

e

success

ion,

repla

cem

ents

and t

o a

chie

ve 1

0%

in

cre

ase

aim

Park

s and

Open

Spaces

Secti

on

will

conti

nue to

carr

y out

appro

pri

ate

tr

ee

pla

nti

ng o

n i

ts l

and i

n

accord

ance w

ith aim

s

and

pri

ori

ties

of

the

Tre

e S

trate

gy.

On-g

oin

g

Exis

itng r

eso

urc

es

Park

s and O

pen S

paces

Str

eet

Tre

e

Repla

ce

me

nt

Pro

gra

mm

e

Pre

pare

annual

roll

ing

pro

gra

mm

e f

or

repla

nti

ng

of

stre

et

trees.

Identi

fy p

riori

ty

locati

ons

from

surv

ey

info

of

fell

ed t

rees

Com

mence

Nov 2

010

ongoin

g

2 y

ear

Capit

al su

m

identi

fied,

exis

ting s

taff

Pla

nnin

g/H

ighw

ays/

Park

s

Cli

mate

Adap

tati

on

Incre

ase

canopy c

over

by

10%

Str

ate

gic

tre

e

pla

nti

ng,

esp

ecia

lly

larg

e c

anopy s

pecie

s,

inte

gra

te p

lanti

ng f

or

clim

ate

adapta

tion

wit

hin

genera

l tr

ee

pla

nti

ng p

lan.

Pla

nnin

g p

rocess

. Encoura

ge

part

ners

/org

anis

ati

ons

to c

ontr

ibute

2010-2

030

No s

pecif

ic f

undin

g

identi

fied o

ther

than

exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

+ p

art

ners

hip

fundin

g

Pla

nnin

g/Park

s, r

ele

vant

Council

Serv

ices

and p

rivate

secto

r

Requ

ire

appro

pri

ate

Tre

e

Pla

nti

ng [

in

rela

tion

to T

ree

Pre

serv

ati

on

Ord

ers

]

Requir

e r

epla

cem

ents

when T

PO

tre

es

are

re

moved

Local

Auth

ori

ties

are

em

pow

ere

d t

o r

equir

e

repla

cem

ent

tree

pla

nti

ng f

or

eit

her

for

appro

ved o

r unauth

ori

sed T

PO

tre

e

rem

oval

in t

he

inte

rest

of

the

am

enit

y

On-g

oin

g

No s

pecif

ic f

undin

g

identi

fied o

ther

than

exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

+ p

art

ners

hip

fu

ndin

g

This

task

is

undert

aken b

y P

lannin

g a

nd

Buil

din

g C

ontr

ol

Tre

e P

lan

ting [

in

rela

tion

to

develo

pm

ent]

Requir

e t

ree p

lanti

ng a

nd

tree r

ete

nti

on a

s part

of

the P

lannin

g p

rocess

Tre

es

are

secure

d a

s part

of

develo

pm

ent

pro

posa

ls and C

ouncil

Pla

nnin

g P

olicie

s

On-g

oin

g

Develo

pm

ent

funded/S

106/Exis

ting s

taff

and

reso

urc

es

This

task

is

undert

aken b

y P

lannin

g a

nd

Buil

din

g C

ontr

ol


Arabic

Dari

Hindi

Polish

Portuguese

Punjabi

Urdu

This document is about the Reading Borough Tree Strategy and the publicconsultation that is being undertaken from 19 February to 2 April 2010. If you need help in translating this leaflet please call 0118 937 2441 or visit the Customer Services Reception on the ground floor of the Civic Offices.

Planning SectionReading Borough Council, Reading RG1 7TD

Tel: Freephone 0800 626540 Email: [email protected] Web: www.reading.gov.uk

June 2010

RESPECTINGt

hePAST-PLANNINGfor

theFUTU

RE RESPECTING the PAST-PLANNING

fortheFUTURERESPECTINGt

hePAST-PLANNINGfor

theFUTU

RE RESPECTING the PAST-PLANNING

fortheFUTURE

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