www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk Trees Information, Objectives and Policies Epping Forest District Council Epping Forest St Johns oak SECTION 1 Background Information Epping Forest District Council is strongly committed to the protection and enhancement of the District's environment as stated in the Community Plan. The Council recognises the importance of its role in the protection of the local and global environments, and the priority given to this role by those who live in, work in or visit the district. The Council will, in all that it does, either through the direct provision of services or otherwise, give particular emphasis to environmental considerations. There are few issues more important than the environment in which we all live. From Government down to the individual citizen, there are concerns CONTENTS about how we must change the way we live and behave in order to protect 1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1 our environment for us now and future generations. Oak, Alderton Hill 2. RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN EPPING FOREST DISTRICT 2 2.1 Environment & Street Scene Directorate 2 The Council will also seek to influence The District is still rich with trees despite Obviously, there can also be problems, 2.2 Planning & Economic Development Directorate 2 the activities of others by way of the destruction of the Great Storm of but these should be outweighed by 2.3 Epping Forest Conservators 3 education, encouragement and, where 1987, the inevitable natural loss from the general benefits. The presence of necessary, enforcement. A key element old age, disease or drought and the trees significantly increases land and 3. EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL POLICIES CONCERNING TREES 5 in this process will be the continued current public concern about root property values. 3.1 New Developments 5 implementation of the Council's encroachment upon buildings which The Council will use its power to protect Environmental Charter. can lead to the removal of trees. 3.2 Section 106 Agreements 5 and increase public respect for our Great efforts have been made to keep 3.3 New Government Legislation 5 Trees form a major part of the countryside and wildlife. The Council is losses to a minimum but much more 3.4 Planting 5 environment. They bring character playing a leading role at local level by: can still be done. 3.5 Maintenance to towns and villages and soften I Setting an example by its own the hard edges of buildings. They It has been estimated that a substantial 3.6 Safety Audits 6 actions and practices. enhance gardens, local streets and street tree will, over its lifetime, 3.7 Local Plan 9 the countryside. contribute an equivalent value to the Working in the community to 4. EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL KEY OBJECTIVES 10 community of up to £100,000. Trees educate and influence about People can become very attached are not only of visual amenity value. the need to protect and manage 5. USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS 11 and protective of certain trees perhaps They are effective in improving the the environment. because of their association with their 6. APPENDICES 12 quality of the environment, by modifying environment or event in their lives. local climate and by controlling air Offering guidance on community 1 Trees in Open Spaces and Woodlands Management Policy 12 One of the pleasures of living and pollution. A good tree provided environment initiatives. after an incident working in the District is undoubtedly environment improves the health and Epping Forest itself but even a solitary Using its powers in a positive way 2 Trees in Open Spaces and Woodland Monitoring Policy 13 lowers stress levels. Trees are also tree on a roadside can bring great to guide and control the activities 3 Advice to the Public 14 important for wildlife and can have enjoyment to passers-by. of others. 4 Commemorative Tree Donation Scheme 15 historic and sentimental value. Some illustrations are taken from the 50 Favourite Trees Project Plane, Lambourne Tree Information, Objectives and Policies 1 Produced by Epcot Images - John Price. SECTION 1 Background Information Epping Forest District Council is strongly committed to the protection and enhancement of the District's environment as stated in the Community Plan. The Council recognises the importance of its role in the protection of the local and global environments, and the priority given to this role by those who live in, work in or visit the district. The Council will, in all that it does, either through the direct provision of services or otherwise, give particular emphasis to environmental considerations. There are few issues more important than the environment in which we all live. From Government down to the individual citizen, there are concerns CONTENTS about how we must change the way we live and behave in order to protect 1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1 our environment for us now and future generations. Oak, Alderton Hill 2. RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN EPPING FOREST DISTRICT 2 2.1 Environment & Street Scene Directorate 2 The Council will also seek to influence The District is still rich with trees despite Obviously, there can also be problems, 2.2 Planning & Economic Development Directorate 2 the activities of others by way of the destruction of the Great Storm of but these should be outweighed by 2.3 Epping Forest Conservators 3 education, encouragement and, where 1987, the inevitable natural loss from the general benefits. The presence of necessary, enforcement. A key element old age, disease or drought and the trees significantly increases land and 3. EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL POLICIES CONCERNING TREES 5 in this process will be the continued current public concern about root property values. 3.1 New Developments 5 implementation of the Council's encroachment upon buildings which The Council will use its power to protect Environmental Charter. can lead to the removal of trees. 3.2 Section 106 Agreements 5 and increase public respect for our Great efforts have been made to keep 3.3 New Government Legislation 5 Trees form a major part of the countryside and wildlife. The Council is losses to a minimum but much more 3.4 Planting 5 environment. They bring character playing a leading role at local level by: can still be done. 3.5 Maintenance to towns and villages and soften I Setting an example by its own the hard edges of buildings. They It has been estimated that a substantial 3.6 Safety Audits 6 actions and practices. enhance gardens, local streets and street tree will, over its lifetime, 3.7 Local Plan 9 the countryside. contribute an equivalent value to the Working in the community to 4. EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL KEY OBJECTIVES 10 community of up to £100,000. Trees educate and influence about People can become very attached are not only of visual amenity value. the need to protect and manage 5. USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS 11 and protective of certain trees perhaps They are effective in improving the the environment. because of their association with their 6. APPENDICES 12 quality of the environment, by modifying environment or event in their lives. local climate and by controlling air Offering guidance on community 1 Trees in Open Spaces and Woodlands Management Policy 12 One of the pleasures of living and pollution. A good tree provided environment initiatives. after an incident working in the District is undoubtedly environment improves the health and Epping Forest itself but even a solitary Using its powers in a positive way 2 Trees in Open Spaces and Woodland Monitoring Policy 13 lowers stress levels. Trees are also tree on a roadside can bring great to guide and control the activities 3 Advice to the Public 14 important for wildlife and can have enjoyment to passers-by. of others. 4 Commemorative Tree Donation Scheme 15 historic and sentimental value. Some illustrations are taken from the 50 Favourite Trees Project Plane, Lambourne Tree Information, Objectives and Policies 1 Produced by Epcot Images - John Price. SECTION 2 & Street Scene Directorate. The works Field, Roughtalley’s Wood, Church Lane Responsibilities requirement exceeds the budgets Flood Meadow, Nazeing Triangle, Home available each year therefore Health and Mead, Thornwood Flood Meadow and within Epping Safety issues are a first priority then Weald Common Flood Meadow. Forest District routine maintenance is undertaken on a priority basis. Each site has a 5 year management plan which sets out long term goals I) ENVIRONMENT b) Open Spaces and objectives for the enhancement of & STREET SCENE the LNRs. Oak, Epping Birch, Buckhurst Hill DIRECTORATE The trees within the Open Spaces are managed on a more informal basis as Designation of the land as an LNR has a) Housing Estate and Highways they have the area to enable them to provided positive benefits in terms of grow naturally and meet their full maturity. external funding and community development. This duty is incorporated b) Tree Preservation Orders (TPOS) set out the Council’s policies in relation to Tree Maintenance into the Epping Forest District Adopted planning application and trees, and Due to the fact that the public have participation. EFDC has received over The Planning and Economic Development Local Plan, January 1998, Policies LL7, specifically retention of trees on The Council, under the remit of access to the Open Space areas there £59,000 in grants for projects on the Directorate is responsible for serving the promoting the planting, protection and development sites, provision of adequate Environment & Street Scene Directorate, must however, like the LNR’s LNRs. These grants have been for one off TPOS, ensuring that the stock is care of trees, LL11, requiring landscaping landscaping on development sites, and has responsibility for the maintenance of (see below), be periodic audits of the projects such as pathways and signage, maintained and misdemeanours are dealt schemes, but particularly LL12 that the provision made on development sites trees on Highway and Housing land trees and the environments.