For a Resilient Urban Forest 2

our vision for a resilient urban forest 2 Contents Strategic Page planning and green A message from Rory Stewart OBE MP....................... 3 infrastructure Foreword ...........................................................................4 Introduction ..................................................................... 5 Natural environment Members of the Urban FWAC Network ...................... 6 Our vision .......................................................................... 7 Strategic planning and green infrastructure .............8 Climate Economy change and growth Climate change ..............................................................10 Natural environment .................................................... 12 Planning and Human health and quality of life ............................... 14 development Planning and development ........................................ 16 Economy and growth ................................................... 18 Human health Risks and Value and resources .....................................................20 and quality of life resilience Risks and resilience .......................................................22 In future... ........................................................................24 Value and References ......................................................................26 resources 3 A message from Rory Stewart OBE MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs I am delighted to support this people to play a part in managing rewarding. Already people are vision for the urban forest. Britain their environment and creating creating and managing tree-filled has long been defined by its great towns and cities. Pocket Parks; schoolchildren are parks and its cities by trees. But planting a million trees in their we are at the beginning of a new This Vision for the urban forest grounds or nearby and Forest era – where we are beginning to draws on a wealth of existing Schools are providing unique fully appreciate and quantify the research, evidence and good learning opportunities. benefits of these trees. What we practice from the UK and beyond once admired for its aesthetic that explains urban trees’ many My sincere thanks to all those beauty, we now admire for its benefits and how to secure them. involved in the Urban FWAC deeper beauty – encapsulating Network for taking the initiative. Many towns and cities are its contribution to air quality, For inspiring and challenging us already working to their own to carbon capture and to the all to help realise their vision in visions, from Manchester’s health and wellbeing of animals, our own ways. I look forward to ‘City of Trees’ movement to insects and humans. Trees are playing my part by endorsing this Birmingham’s biophilic city. Our unique in their ability to reach vision, championing the wide- challenge is to empower more across generations and cultures. ranging benefits it describes and people and business to play They inspire our imaginations working with colleagues across their part. To help unleash their and remind us of our place in Government to make Britain a drive and energy to create the the natural world. Planting and place famous throughout the great places they want. Doing so caring for trees helps connect world for its urban trees. can be challenging but hugely people with nature; empowering 4 Foreword Sir Harry Studholme, Chairman of the Forestry Commission The majority of England’s population In reflecting on the vision I would like All of us want to see a cleaner, live, and have lived for a long time to challenge you all to think about healthier environment. This vision now, in our towns and cities. It is here three questions: outlines what a resilient urban forest that most people experience trees. can contribute and how to make it 1 Do you know the scale and value happen. Trees have a special resonance in an of your urban forest? Are you urban setting. In gardens, alongside harnessing the power of new One of the joys of our urban streets and in parks, the urban tools, big data and volunteer environment is the diversity of our forest is a functioning element of commitment to measure the true cities and towns and each place the ecosystem of our cities. Trees value of your trees? will approach these opportunities provide shade and shelter, beauty, in different ways. To be resilient and pollution control as well as a 2 How well do you support the our urban forest needs to celebrate natural counterpoint to the built care of our existing urban forest? this diversity not only in planting a environment and a backdrop for Are you engaging with the wide range of tree species, but also recreation. enthusiasm of local communities in fostering a wide range of locally and businesses for the protection, inspired solutions. There is a huge The information that the Urban FWAC improvement and expansion of opportunity in this vision, which is Network have brought together in their urban forest? not simply about trees but about this key document will help those making our cities more liveable. I 3 Do you have a target to increase involved in planning and managing hope it inspires not only those of us tree and canopy cover in your urban areas in cities and towns to who have long been working to build town or city? Will you be planting create the opportunities that will the urban forest but encourages more trees? deliver the vision (see page 6). more people and communities to make the vision a reality. Sir Harry Studholme Forestry Commission Chairman 5 Introduction Jane Carlsen, Urban Forestry and Woodlands Advisory Committee (FWAC) Network Chair The Urban FWAC Network has The Urban FWAC Network was The Urban FWAC Network will now developed this vision for a resilient established by the Forestry develop a strategic action plan to urban forest and the many Commission in 2014 to take take the vision forward. opportunities that will follow from its forward the case for urban forestry implementation. in England’s towns and cities and Everybody who is affected by trees spread good practice. Every FWAC and woodland in our towns and cities The vision builds on the immense nominated a representative to the will need to sign up to this vision benefits of the trees in our cities and network and from the beginning our and develop a local action plan. is an important guide for all of us members felt that it was key for there This includes the owners of land who care for the urban forest. to be one vision of urban forestry with trees – local authorities, utility that everyone could sign up to and companies, community groups and could be delivered at a local level. individual residents – professionals who work with trees, and all of us This document sets out that vision. who live, work in and will benefit It has been agreed by the chairs from the resilient urban forest. of the FWACs and I am delighted that Sir Harry, Forestry Commission The network of FWACs will work Chairman, is supporting the vision. to enable and encourage England’s He has set us all a number of urban areas to make the commitment challenges. Towns and cities across to deliver and spread the benefits of England have already begun to the urban forest. address these challenges and there Jane Carlsen is inspiration to be had from further Chair, Urban FWAC Network afield in North America, Australia and France. 6 Members of the Urban FWAC Network • Jane Carlsen • Nick Grayson Urban FWAC Network Chair and Climate Change and Sustainability This document has been published Chair of London Forestry and Woodlands Manager with kind support from: Advisory Committee (FWAC) Birmingham City Council Representing West Midlands FWAC • John Meehan Environment Team Manager • Paul Nolan Essex County Council Director Representing East of England FWAC The Mersey Forest • Bruce Collinson • Iain Taylor Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Project Director of Business Development East Hampshire District Council The Land Trust Representing the South East FWAC Representing the North West FWAC • David Houghton • Ross Weddle, Specialist in Continuous Arboriculture Officer Cover and Urban Forestry London Borough of Camden Representing North East FWAC Representing London FWAC • Tom Wild, Business Development • Peter Wilkinson Manager, Urban Institute, University of Director, The Next Field Ltd Sheffield Green Space Business Advisors Representing Yorkshire and Humber FWAC Representing South West FWAC 7 Our vision for the urban1 forest in England is... Where the many benefits of trees are recognised and invested in. In more detail… The urban forest is integral to the form and function of all our urban areas. The urban forest is complex and multi-functional, resisting It helps create healthy and economically successful communities and easy classification. The vision has been split into eight main liveable places for people and wildlife. themes: 1 Strategic planning and It will... infrastructure 2 Climate change Be considered as critical Be viewed and managed Inspire collaboration and infrastructure for urban as a whole and not creativity to ensure that 3 Natural environment areas, on a par with utility, considered as separate the urban forest thrives 4 Human health and quality transport and the built trees. Trees in parks, streets, and expands in a world of life environment. Infrastructure private gardens, public of increasingly complex does not appear by chance; land, highways and urban institutional, ownership, 5 Planning and development it is planned

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