Tree planting

New tree planting is one of the most important components of any tree strategy to ensure good levels of tree cover are maintained for future generations. Trees take decades to mature, so the loss of mature trees will have a significant impact on tree canopy cover.

To ensure Fareham retains its existing levels of tree coverage re-planting needs to take place continuously throughout the borough. It is recognised that newly planted trees require specific maintenance during their initial establishment period.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to establish new trees, particularly in urban areas due to the range of underground services, competition for space, limited soil volumes, poor soils, pollution, insurance claims, safety audits, vandalism and the impacts of climate change. These constraints may vary and are less prevalent in many of our parks and open spaces. However, the commitment required to establish a newly planted tree so as to achieve independence in the landscape should not be underestimated and remains a challenge for local authorities.

Where trees have been removed from Council land it is important they are replaced the following planting season in order to sustain our tree heritage. New planting will take account of its future impact upon the local and wider environment.

Young tree maintenance is not only crucial to the survival of a newly planted tree. It ensures future problems are remedied before they become high cost maintenance issues or health and safety concerns.

The principle aim of new planting will be to maintain and increase tree cover within the borough and to achieve a resilient and diverse tree population, well suited to the planting location and able to meet the challenges of a changing climate, pests and disease, whilst maximising amenity, biodiversity and other tree related benefits.