Sefton Council’s Green Sefton service has overseen the planting of 3,230 new trees in its most recent, November to March planting season.

This winter’s planting branched across 19 of the Borough’s wards in parks, woodland areas and along its highways.

Residents might have noticed the 230 larger size trees that are now taking root along streets and in parks. Less noticeable but equally as important are the 3,000 saplings planted as woodland that will eventually become high-density areas, great for wildlife to thrive. 

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Sefton is a clean, green and beautiful place to live in and to visit and the Council is dedicated to maintaining its green spaces, which includes looking after 90,000 trees.

“Our small but expert Tree and Woodland team, which is part of our Green Sefton service, has done a sterling job this season, overseeing the planting of thousands of new trees across nearly all of our wards.

“Not only does this enrich our already green Borough, it comes at a time when we have seen unprecedented use of our outdoors spaces by residents and visitors alike. What’s more, continued tree planting contributes towards our continuing action on climate change.”  

Earlier this week, Sefton Council confirmed it is on track to be net zero carbon by 2030 after it published its Climate Emergency Annual Report. Tree planting has a vital role to play in this work which, in time, will reduce the amount of carbon in our atmosphere and contribute further net carbon reductions.

The Council also works in partnership with organisations like the Mersey Forest with woodland planting across Sefton, and community groups who would like to support this activity in their area.

Cllr Moncur added: “Restrictions due to the pandemic, mean that sadly we haven’t been able to undertake our planting with community groups and volunteers as we have done in previous years, but we can’t wait to work with them once more now that our volunteering activity is taking place again.”

The Tree and Woodland team are working towards a strategy that will set out the Council’s goals with respect to maintaining, conserving and enhancing tree cover in the Borough over the next 20 years and beyond. It will ensure that the right trees are planted in the right places.

The decision to remove any tree across Sefton is taken extremely seriously by the Council and is always undertaken in the interests of health and safety. 

If residents would like to know more about the work of the Tree and Woodland team, or have a request or question about tree planting in their ward, they can email trees@sefton.gov.uk or visit the Council’s dedicated tree pages on its website.