Tree nursery to help tackle climate crisis

The Council will create and operate a new tree nursery to help towards our aim of planting 160,000 trees in the Borough by 2030.

As part of its Climate and Environmental Emergency programme, the Council’s Cabinet gave the green light to plans for the nursery, which will ensure a supply of native broadleaf trees, as well as hedging plants and fruiting trees. We are engaging with the Woodland Trust to maximise the environmental and ecological potential of the

nursery. It also unveiled plans for a tree sponsorship scheme.

Council Leader, Cllr Keith House, said: “By creating our own tree nursery and planting programme we are providing the opportunity to grow native tree species from seed using our own staff. The benefits of planting trees are well known in

terms of absorbing carbon dioxide, together with reducing urban temperatures, preventing flooding, capturing pollution and supporting biodiversity.”

When the first seeds and saplings are planted in the nursery later this year, we are keen that local families, community groups and schoolchildren are involved. Keep an eye on www.eastleigh.gov.uk for more details.