THE COUNCIL has agreed a plan to plant thousands of trees every year across the city.

The programme is part of Brighton and Hove City Council’s “commitment to tackling the climate and biodiversity emergency”.

It is also looking to identify more land for woodland which could increase tree planting.

It is investing in a tree-planting programme which is mainly funded from a £1 million grant from the council’s Carbon Neutral Fund. Some of the investment has been on new staff.

In 2021 to 2022, the council planted 425 trees and 2,530 young tree seedlings.

Councillor Steve Davis, co-chairman of the environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “It is crucial that we do everything we can to maintain our tree population and reduce the biodiversity loss from losing trees which succumb to disease.

“Ash dieback is devastating our native ash trees and is driven by the climate crisis, with extreme changes in weather providing the perfect conditions for the fungus that causes it. 

“That’s why we also have an ash dieback management plan alongside our tree-planting plan to minimise the losses in Brighton and Hove as much as we can.

“Trees play an important role in filtering pollution and improving air quality. 

“They also have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, making our streets and open spaces more pleasant places to be.

“As well as maintaining our tree stock we will actively look for land to create new woodland areas, such as the one on Carden Hill.”

Trees also help to prevent flooding by taking up water and provide much-needed shade in heatwaves, so more planting helps to prevent some of the impacts of climate change.

The tree-planting plan aims to support the 2030 Carbon Neutral Programme by enabling planting of a variety of species with greater resilience to pests and disease, and work with residents on planting trees in communities.

Councillors agreed the tree planting and ash dieback action plan at the environment, transport and sustainability committee last month.