ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø

Our project plan

As part of our climate change strategy, we are working with communities across ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø to plant a tree for every one of our residents by 2030. That is 1.2 million new trees.

Read our 2020 Tree Strategy

Our strategy outlines five key objectives that frame our work:

• Leading by example
• Partnership working
• Right tree in the right place
• Effective planting and aftercare
• Valuing our green infrastructure

By embracing these objectives, we are making good progress to meet our goal by 2030.

1.2 million new trees

ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø is working in partnership with you and your communities, schools, businesses and charities, as well as our local district, borough and parish councils, to plant the right trees in the right place.

We are taking the lead to make sure we look after and protect young trees and help them grow and establish into strong, healthy mature trees.

As a major landowner in ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, we are finding places on our own land where individual trees and woodlands can be planted to increase tree cover.

We are also valuing our existing green infrastructure by managing our own woodlands effectively and looking at planning policy to support, where appropriate, the safeguarding of existing trees and planting on new housing developments.

Why it is important to plant trees

Trees help ease the effects of climate change. Their leaves and branches shade the ground and their root systems help prevent flooding. They also play a key role in capturing and storing carbon dioxide. Trees improve air quality and biodiversity to make our communities healthier, greener and more sustainable. For more information, email us at trees@surreycc.gov.uk. You can also find out about planting trees on the highway.

Progress so far

Together with our partners, we are making great progress towards our goal of planting 1.2 million trees by 2030.

Since the launch of the initiative in 2019, over 768, 832 trees have been planted across ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø. This figure is a combination of cumulative planting across ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø's land portfolio, partner sites and other external ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø planting. Working with our partners, we have delivered planting projects across the county. All our planting is delivered against our five objectives, and ensures we always plant the 'right tree in the right place'. Our Tree Planting and Establishment team has worked hard to engage community groups, charities and schools planning projects, offering support and advice on planting and aftercare

Where have we planted trees?

This map shows where we have planted trees so far. See how many have been planted in your community and add your own planted tree or hedgerow to ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø's New Tree Strategy Interactive Map.

Who has planted trees?

This chart shows trees planted by councils, schools, community groups and individuals since the project began in 2019.

We are delivering through a combination of planting projects from ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø County County land portfolio, and working with our partners for wider planting across ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø. There are multiple schemes that offer varying benefits to individual sites and communities. These include: planting copses, community orchards, improving school land, boundary hedging and the creation of new woodlands. We also work with our highways team to plant more urban street trees and schemes on our rural highway verges.

ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø land

To fulfil our pledge of leading by example, we deliver planting projects on our own land portfolio. These include a community orchard in Warlingham, new hedgerows planting on our tenant farms and tree cover on large highway verges. We are identifying projects to increase our canopy cover and new tree planting for residents to access and enjoy. Putting biodiversity first, we design our projects for the future to build climate resilience. Where possible, we support our district councils and borough councils to plant on their landholdings.

Working with schools

At this stage in our project, we are delighted to have worked with over 100 schools to plant on their school grounds. This includes planting trees to enhance forest schools and outdoor learning spaces, planting fruit trees and creating shade. We aim to help schools improve biodiversity and educate their students about the benefits of tree planting. These projects are school-led with our Schools Arboricultural Officer offering their expertise to support the design of planting projects and species choices, as well as guidance on funding opportunities and helping volunteers plant and deliver aftercare to achieve planting success.

Supporting parish councils, charities and community groups

Our Tree Planting Volunteer Coordinators work with communities to increase new tree planting within charities, community groups and parish councils. They offer specialist project planning advice and increase partner engagement for county-wide support. Their role ensures great communications, robust planting schedules and programmes of establishment, to ensure that we are planting the right trees in the right places in the right way. The team has delivered multiple projects and schemes to attract a cohesive group of volunteers who plant trees, deliver aftercare and support our community planting in over 130 community groups.

We also work with the ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Tree Wardens who contribute their time, further support and expertise to these projects.

Engagement events

Our engagement events offer free trees to residents, together with guidance on planting trees and funding opportunities. We work with colleagues in ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø's libraries to run Tree Library Giveaways to enable residents to create their own greener future across their communities. These 'giveaways' offer residents a chance to plant trees in their gardens and learn more about our project.

Best Practice planting and aftercare of our new trees

All our planting is designed with climate resilience at the forefront. We make targeted decisions for our species selection. Every planting scheme is designed with a robust aftercare plan to ensure the trees thrive and survive.

Planting for future seasons

Moving into future planting seasons, our project will continue to evolve in line with our strategic objectives, with biodiversity and sustainability in mind. We will continue to innovate, work with landowners and farmers, run engagement events, reach out to volunteers and communities, and deliver projects to benefit both residents, nature recovery and the environment.

For more information, email us at trees@surreycc.gov.uk

Get involved

Here is information about how you can get involved and help us towards our goal of planting 1.2 million trees in ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø by 2030.

How can you plant a tree?

A core part of our plan to plant 1.2m trees by 2030 is to work in partnership with residents, communities, schools, businesses and charities, as well as our local district, borough and parish councils. If you would be interested in tree planting on your site, or would like further information, please fill out our short form.

Become a volunteer

ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø has set an ambitious target of planting 1.2 million trees in ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø by 2030. That is one tree for every resident in the county. To achieve this goal, we need your help. Please do join us on this journey and help us plant trees.

You can get outside in the fresh air and do some gentle physical activity to keep fit and improve your mental wellbeing. Other positive benefits include:

• Learn new skills at a short workshop about tree planting and environmental benefits
• Meet like-minded people
• Make difference to your local community
• Make a positive contribution towards the climate emergency
• Create habitats for some of our endangered wildlife
• Leave a legacy for future generations: your great-grandchildren might one day be sitting in the shade of a tree that you planted.

What roles are there?

• Clearing the ground before the Tree Planting Day which could include clearing weeds by hand
• Planting whips (saplings), feathers (young trees with side branches) or standard trees (more mature larger trees)
• Watering the trees in the summer months, weeding around the base and topping up mulch where appropriate
• We also need people to help with logistics on the day. This might include welcoming volunteers to the Tree Planting sessions and delivering trees around the site for people to plant.

See our What's On in the Countryside web page for any upcoming events.

Tree planting funding available

• The majority of funding for woodland creation is facilitated by the Forestry Commission. See more details about Woodland Management. For more information, email us at trees@surreycc.gov.uk
• provides funding to support new woodland creation projects for areas greater than 1 hectare in size. Funding covers 100% of the costs for capital items and activities, ten years of maintenance payments, plus added additional contributions.
• ) provides funding to support a woodland creation plan, ensuring compliance with the UK Forestry Standard. This planning can then be used to support other funding bids, such as the EWCO.
• provides funding from the Woodland Trust to plant at least 500 trees on land larger than 0.5 hectare in size. Funding covers up to 75% of the cost of the trees and up to 60% of the cost of a contractor.

Other tree planting schemes:

• provides funding from t