Solihull Council has pledged to plant 250,000 trees in ten years and is delighted to have partnered with the National Trust teams at Baddesley Clinton and Packwood.
The National Trust is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and Solihull Council’s overarching aim is to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the borough by 2041. As well as being an important tool to tackle the climate crisis, trees provide people and wildlife with a whole host of benefits from increasing biodiversity to capturing carbon and reducing pollution levels.
Throughout the winter months the National Trust has been planting up to 1,000 trees along hedgerows at Baddesley as part of the ‘Planting Our Future’ campaign with Solihull Council.
Stephen Spinks, General Manager, said: “Over 125 years ago the National Trust set out to open up the natural world so everyone could explore vibrant green spaces like parks, woodlands and the countryside. Trees breathe life into our world, and it's vital we plan for the future of woodlands so we can help tackle the climate change crisis.
“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Solihull Council to support delivering our shared tree planting ambitions. As Europe’s biggest conservation charity, the National Trust, working together with like-minded partners, has a responsibility to do everything we can to fight climate change, which poses the biggest threat to the places, nature and collections we care for.
“Over the past couple of years, we’ve been reminded of how important nature is for our health and wellbeing, and every bulb and sapling planted is a step towards creating new habitats and restoring our wildlife, currently much under threat across the UK. We’re really looking forward to kicking off the project this winter and working with Solihull Council both now and into the future.”
Cllr Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with the National Trust in a three-year journey towards our mutual ambitions.
“Solihull Council has committed to planting 250,000 trees in ten years, to help towards our goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions in the borough by 2041. However, the environment knows no boundaries and our partnership with the National Trust will take planting projects in and around Solihull borders in National Trust properties.
“The trees we plant will not only have an enormous benefit to the environment, improving biodiversity and carbon absorption, but they will enhance the beauty of these special locations and provide new habitats for wildlife in the area.”