Partnership working strategy for city’s street trees is unveiled

Partnership working strategy for city’s street trees is unveiled - Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust

A new shared vision for the care and management of Sheffield’s street trees will be published this week alongside an online survey which asks for views from individuals and organisations to help shape a final strategy by spring 2021.

The working strategy, which outlines a positive and exemplary approach to the future management of the city’s street trees, comes following months of partnership working between representatives from Sheffield City Council, Amey, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Sheffield Tree Action Groups, The Woodland Trust and tree valuation experts.

The working strategy recognises the essential contribution that street trees provide for health and wellbeing, air quality and other ecological and environmental benefits, as well as outlining new ways of working to ensure the city’s network of street trees is well maintained and sustained for the future.

Six outcomes, which will collectively help shape and develop the future approach to street trees, are outlined in the working strategy; putting into practice long-term and tangible plans to allow for smarter and more considered decisions.

These are:

Sustainably and carefully managing our street trees in accordance with best practice.
Increasing the value and benefits that flow from our street trees.
Contributing to a more equal distribution of urban forest across the city to promote health & wellbeing.
Increasing street tree canopy cover.
Ensuring our street trees are more resilient through the type and age of trees we plant and also how we manage the current street tree stock.
Involving the wider community in caring for and valuing street trees.

As a supplement to Sheffield City Council’s existing Trees and Woodlands Strategy (2018-2033) the working strategy outlines a clear proposal to promote and enhance Sheffield’s street tree stock whilst identifying the unique challenges of caring for trees growing in a highway environment.