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Newport asks for feedback on growth plan for city’s urban forest

Tredegar Park. Credit: Newport Council
Newport City Council is asking for the public to give their feedback on the priorities in its developing tree strategy which aims to significantly increase the city’s “urban forest”.
Councillor Yvonne Forsey, cabinet member for climate change, said: “In 2016, Natural Resources Wales identified Newport as having the greatest tree canopy area of any city in Wales at 18 per cent.

“We want to increase this urban forest by 2032 to 25 per cent, more than a quarter of the city. We also need to manage and maintain what we already have as well as work with private landowners.

“Funding to help us achieve this will not be solely from the council but by potentially using a range of grants from other organisations such as The Woodland Trust, Welsh government, National Heritage Lottery Fund and the Tree Council.

“Trees are vitally important, both in built-up areas and rural locations, for all sorts of reasons.

“They contribute positively to the environment and our health by improving air quality, providing shade and make areas more attractive. Trees provide homes for our wildlife both on and beneath them.

“We are already committed to planting 27,000 trees by 2027 which will take us a long way to our ultimate goal.

“We know how important our parks and green spaces are, including the amazing riverfront park with its diverse planting which stretches from the city centre to Lliswerry, providing a great place to walk, run, cycle or just relax.”

To find out more about the strategy and take part in the consultation, visit www.newport.gov.uk/haveyoursay It closes on Friday 1 August.