Letter published in the Eastern Daily Press on Tree Planting. Text as follows:
Dear Sir
Your report (EDP 16 May) on the potential purchase of land by Norfolk County Council to plant trees serves to illustrate the difficulty in making decisions concerning land use and investment in the UK. It is good to see the Council recognising the value of trees as a crucial resource in a strategy to reduce carbon emissions, providing trees are of the right type, planted in the right place and have a clear long term plan in place for their care. Woodland cover accounts for only approximately 13% of the UK’s land surface and increasing native tree cover is key to improving biodiversity and providing green space for our own mental health.
The predicted cost could be substantial. However, the role of local government is to enhance and develop an area for the benefit of residents. Many of the parks and outdoor spaces we have today were planned with this in mind decades ago to leave a legacy for future generations. In terms of addressing the climate crisis, I would rather see rural land used for tree planting than for densely packed housing developments consisting of large homes with very little affordable housing provision.
Kind Regards
Eleanor Laming
