A Greener Future in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Council is on a mission to create a greener, cleaner future for everyone in the county and is calling on local residents and communities to get involved.

During National Tree Week (27 November to 3 December), the council launched its Bucks Tree Mission (https://bit.ly/3lXAVGC), a commitment to its planting of trees across Buckinghamshire and support for community projects and initiatives to do the same. This year's National Tree Week was particularly special because many of the trees planted will form part of Her Majesty The Queen's Green Canopy initiative (https://bit.ly/3DLa4nh).

The Bucks Tree Mission encompasses a range of shared tree planting projects including:

• The Council’s pledge to plant over 543,000 trees, one for every resident in Bucks

• The Queen’s Green Canopy – a tree planting initiative to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

• Several community tree planting projects using funding from the Forestry Commission’s Local Authority Treescapes Fund

• Community based projects such as the Chiltern Rangers seed gathering initiative in partnership with local community boards

Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment, planted the first of the council’s 543,000 trees at The Rye in High Wycombe. He said: “Our pledge to plant over half a million trees in Buckinghamshire over the next 10 years forms part of our commitment to tackling climate change. Tree planting is one of the best ways to help our environment because trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the air. Trees also help prevent flooding, improve water quality, and enhance biodiversity.

“Every tree planted in Buckinghamshire helps to achieve the Bucks Tree Mission of creating more space for nature to grow and thrive and helps to improve health and wellbeing for everyone.”