Growing a Master Plan for Portsmouth's Trees
Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Lib Dem Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City, is calling on local residents to help us achieve our goal of Portsmouth being one of the greenest cities in the country. Lib Dem-run Portsmouth City Council is creating a tree master plan setting out a decade off ambitious tree planting and growth.
Cllr Barrett and her team at Portsmouth City Council worked closely with the Forestry Commission throughout 2024 to identify at least 65 different species of tree contributing to our city's vibrant natural environment.
Portsmouth's ‘Urban Forest Master Plan’ will set our a vision for trees across our city, helping the Council make sure our trees are healthy so they can enhance our environment, improve our health and wellbeing, and mitigate some of the impacts of climate change. Our plan will focus on what all of us can do in our quest for a greener, healthier, and more climate-resilient city.
Our vision is a greener, healthier and more climate resilient city, and trees play an important part of that. They provide habitat for wildlife to thrive and move around the city, and enhance our green spaces which are so important for people’s health and wellbeing.
Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City
Last year, along with the Forestry Commission's research arm Forest Research, your Lib Dem-run council asked you what was important to you. 65% of people said they wanted to be able to see more trees from their homes. When we aked you why trees were important to you, you told us you care about them improving air quality and reducing pollution, providing shade and cooler air, and preventing flooding. 84% of you agreed that Portsmouth is a better place to live and work in because of its trees.
Our Urban Forest Goals
A treescape with a diverse range of species – helping to reduce its vulnerability to climate change and the threats from pests and diseases.
The right trees planted in the right places, ensuring they become long-lived and able to provide multiple benefits for communities and nature.
Working collectively with communities and landowners across Portsmouth to continually build a resilient treescape.
Trees are an important part of nature-based solutions to climate change; providing shade, improving local air quality, and helping to reduce flooding. Our master plan will set our overall vision for trees so the city can maximise these benefits, and we’d really like people to share their views on it.
Cllr Kimberly Barrett
Portsmouth Lib Dems believe in working with our communities to create the city we all want, and welcome your views on the council's plan. The consultation is open until 8 April 2025 and can be completed online at Welcome to Portsmouth’s Urban Forest Master Plan – Treeconomics