Strongly support priorities for improving the natural environment & greenspace

From "Corporate Strategy"

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We support a priority for the natural environment for its own sake, also worth noting the positive contribution of green infrastructure to improving health and well-being. Trees act to improve air quality by absorbing pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and ozone, intercepting harmful particulates and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis. Even small areas of urban trees can improve air quality by screening pollution. The presence of trees also has proven benefits for mental health and well-being as well as for wider benefits of biodiversity and climate resilience. Inclusion of existing and creation of new green space can help reduce health inequalities.

Trees should be integrated into new developments, and developments should be located so as to provide access to woodland for health and well-being. We recommend the guidance published by the Woodland Trust "Residential developments and trees - the importance of trees and green spaces" (January 2019). We also recommend the addition of an overall target for tree canopy cover of at least 20 per cent to be pursued through the retention of important trees, appropriate replacement of trees lost through development, ageing or disease and by new planting to support green infrastructure, as part of the response to the climate and nature emergencies. Further guidance can be found in the Woodland Trust's "Emergency Tree Plan" (January 2020).

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Profile of Mike Owens

Posted by:Mike Owens

3 years ago

One thing that is not going to help is building all over green Fields. It is not good enough to over develop any given site with hundreds of new homes and just a handful of trees for aesthetic purposes only. The planet, as the councils own environment strategy concludes means that more trees should be planted for the oxygen we breath and for our mental health. Not enough is being done to prioritise development on brown field sites. THis includes the near 1000 homes that are vacant in the borough. Strategically, HBC could avoid destroying our natural open spaces by recycling all those empty homes, to generate less carbon bringing them back to life - I thought the council said it was committed to low carbon and yet it approves development in green spaces. The strategy is unsustainable, ill considered and not cohesive and requires significant modification

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Profile of Sue Doxat

Posted by:Sue Doxat

3 years ago

@Mike Owens Many local residents believe the further loss of open space from Campdown Crookhorn will be unreplaceable, esp when so many other farms and woodlands areas have already been replaced in the area for houseing. This space acts as a connecting corridor and migratory stop. It could be enhanced further to protect and encourage more wildlife. Gov has already recognised that some houseing targets are not achievable in some areas.

Profile of Sarah Coleman

Posted by:Sarah Coleman

3 years ago

Councils talk about planting trees, but perhaps they should stop giving permission to destroy them too. The number of great trees that have gone at the thicket due to the reservoir is shocking. Weeks to destroy what has taken 100s of years to establish.