Trees are being planted in Beeston to reduce carbon and increase biodiversity as part of Broxtowe Borough Council’s Green Futures Programme.
Gardeners at Broxtowe Borough Council have been planting a variety of tree’s in Leyton Crescent along an old hedgerow and the tree’s being planted include Oak, Field Maple, and Elm.
The trees being planted by the council are hoped to provide a home for the endangered butterfly species, whilst also helping to catch carbon from the atmosphere.
By the end of February there will have been 2500 new tree’s planted in the borough.
Chair of the Climate Change Committee, Councillor Helen Skinner, said: “Wherever we can we will look to encourage wildlife onto our parks and open spaces.
“Sometimes it only requires small changes to be made to the way we look after things to have a positive impact for wildlife and always without detracting from the excellent facilities and recreation opportunities our sites provide for Borough residents”
During the 1970’s the Dutch Elm Disease swept across the UK, which killed approximately 25 million trees.
The White Letter Hairstreak is a type of butterfly, whose caterpillars only feed on Elm, and because of the lack of trees the population is today just 3% of what it was before the 1970’s.
The council’s Green Futures programme is currently ongoing, with the goal to reduce carbon whilst also increasing the variety of plant and animal life.
By Laycie Beck
