Title: South Holland District Council Proposes Initiatives to Increase Tree and Hedgerow Coverage
Content:
Research recently conducted has highlighted that certain areas of south and east Lincolnshire, such as those encompassing South Holland, present significantly less tree and hedgerow cover than the national standard. In reaction to these findings, the South Holland District Council’s cabinet gathered on Tuesday. Their objective was to develop an expansive five-year strategy focused on the maintenance, introduction, and advocacy of trees and hedgerows in the district. Data collated by the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership denoted that around 6.5% of the land in the mentioned regions is filled with trees, while the hedgerow cover sits roughly at 1.5%. This falls disappointingly short of the UK averages of 12.8% and 2.5% for tree and hedgerow cover, respectively.
Nick Worth, the Council Leader for South Holland, indicated that the district’s emphasis on agriculture might be a major factor behind the dismal levels of tree coverage. He said, “The prioritisation of farming and food over forestry is to be expected in our region.” Nevertheless, the newly proposed strategy aims to incentivise local farmers to plant more hedgerows wherever feasible. There is an ongoing discussion about this proposition in governing bodies in East Lindsey and Boston. In addition, there is potential for an environmental cooperative with Friends of the Earth to pinpoint areas suitable for planting.
Extensive discussions during the meeting shed light on the fact that East Lindsey has earmarked potential planting sites sprawling over 2,243 acres (908 hectares). Conversely, Boston has identified a mere 27 acres (11 hectares) for this purpose, while South Holland can offer less than 2.5 acres (1 hectare). Councillor Elizabeth Sneath, who is in charge of the conservation and heritage portfolio, highlighted the imperative contribution of trees and hedgerows to combat biodiversity loss and climate change. She stated, “The pressing issue of climate change and the anticipated increase in extreme weather events underscores the importance of our green infrastructure in safeguarding our communities, while also bolstering our adaptation to climate change.” Sneath further cited the typically fenland terrain of Boston and South Holland as a crucial aspect contributing to the reduced tree coverage compared to other regions in the UK.
This story was originally reported by www.bbc.com and subsequently adapted for The Lincoln Post.
