Buckinghamshire Council is on a mission to create a greener, cleaner future for everyone in Buckinghamshire.
This is a link to another campaign page
Tree planting is one of the ways in which we are working towards our goal of reducing our carbon emissions by 75% by 2030 on the way to achieving net-zero no later than 2050, as part of our Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy.
Progress so far
Billet Field autumn 2024
Since the launch of the 'Bucks Tree Mission' in 2021, over 192,000 trees have been planted in Buckinghamshire.
The tree planting is precisely managed, focusing on establishing new woodlands and supporting tree planting in urban areas. Tree species selected are native to the region and suited to the soil conditions, ensuring each tree is planted in its optimal location.
There is also consideration for trees for the future and what will thrive in our ever-changing climate. This strategy fosters the development of healthy woods and hedgerows, offering a variety of habitats for wildlife.
For detailed information about the new woods that have been created and the tree species that have been planted visit Large-scale planting in Buckinghamshire.
Trees we are planting this year
This tree planting season, thousands of whips are ready to be planted in a range of sites across Buckinghamshire. These efforts will create new wooded areas, and where these are close to communities and can be accessed safely they will be opened to the public once established.
New woodlands being planted this winter will sequester 2,498 tonnes of carbon over 100 years, which is the equivalent to driving 17,855,611.2 kilometres. To put it into context, that’s roughly equivalent to annual emissions of 543 cars, or the annual energy use of 384 homes.
Lower Munt's Wood - Saunderton
At 6.5 hectares, the creation of Lower Munt’s Wood will be our largest tree planting site this season. The wood will incorporate grassland glades to support diverse habitats and biodiversity, and - once established - new woodland paths for the enjoyment of local walkers. Key tree species include hornbeam, oak, wild cherry, small-leaved lime, whitebeam and yew reflecting the mix of species present in the adjoining semi-ancient woodland at Munt’s Wood and why it has been named 'Lower Munt's Wood'.
Roddimoore Wood - Winslow
Over 4,000 trees will be planted in Roddimore Wood, located between Winslow and Great Horwood. Of note is Black Poplar which is an important species for the local area, and blackthorn scrub, a favoured food source for brown hairstreak butterfly larvae – rated as high priority on butterfly conservation lists. There are two small watercourses running along the edge of this site, so we have designed a ‘riparian area’ with species that thrive in wetter conditions, including alder and willows.
Isle of Wight Wood - Gerrards Cross
The Isle of Wight Wood is situated alongside one of the busiest sections of the M25, so the woodland will directly contribute to improving air quality and noise reduction. One third of the site will be left to develop through natural colonisation, a strategy aimed at woodland creation and expansion with the expectation that seeds from the adjacent woodland will migrate and grow.
Natural Colonisation offers several benefits, including reduced costs, increased biodiversity, and a natural matching of tree stock.
Innisfree Wood - Great Missenden
Covering just over one hectare, the tree species selected for Innisfree Wood are those found in the adjacent semi-ancient woodland, extending wildlife corridors alongside the busy A413. We have also upweighted species that might provide a future sustainable timber source for coppicing, notably hazel but also some spindle and wayfaring trees.
Huntsmoor Park Wood – Iver
Huntsmoor Park Wood has been designed as a community woodland for everyone to enjoy with a proposed new all-access gate and pathway. As a nod to the past, the planting scheme at Huntsmoor Park Wood will include heritage fruit trees. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Buckinghamshire was famous for its orchards and soft fruit varieties, supplying fruit to the markets in London.
Another Buckinghamshire village, Seer Green, earned the nickname ‘Cherry Pie Village’ and became a popular destination in spring for those wanting to see the cherry blossoms. There will also be a high proportion of English Oak trees planted. Oaks support more life forms than any other native tree (over 2,300), hosting hundreds of insect species and supplying many birds with shelter and an important food source. Into the autumn, mammals such as squirrels, badgers, and deer feed on the acorns.
Tiny Forest – Desborough Recreation Ground, High Wycombe
In High Wycombe we will be planting another ‘Tiny Forest’. This is a high density, rapidly growing native woodland, roughly the size of a tennis court. These pocket forests are inspired by the methods of Japanese botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki. They provide excellent habitats for butterflies, birds, bees: a wildlife oasis in an urban landscape, with additional benefits and facilities for outdoor learning and citizen science projects with nearby schools. We have invited pupils at neighbouring Millbrook Combined school to help us with our planting and in doing so, find out more about why trees as so important to our ecosystem.
Read more about how creating woodlands is a key element in our Air Quality and Climate Change Strategy.
How we create woodland
We work with the Property team to identify potential sites for creating new woodland, and carry out a series of checks on the environment, soil structure and surrounding area to assess suitability. We consult with the Forestry Commission and use up to date authoritative forest research data to assess what species would be most successful using climate forecasting and modelling to ensure we are planting the right tree in the right place.
We only plant native British species and endeavour to reflect what might be locally successful or important. This year we are including the following species in our planting schemes:
Black poplar, blackthorn, eared/grey willow, field maple, hawthorn, hazel, heritage fruit trees, hornbeam, oak, rowan, silver birch, small-leaved lime, spindle, wayfaring tree, whitebeam, wild cherry, wild service tree, yew.
Operationally, all our woodlands are established and managed by silviculture professionals, employing teams of contactors at the time of planting and for larger works such as spot spraying and mowing open areas. To protect the trees as they develop, some sites – particularly larger ones – are best served by deer fencing; however for other, smaller sites we are using tree shelters. Some of this winter’s new planting will use plastic tree shelters: these are made of largely recycled plastic, are more cost-effective, and are widely recognised to be more durable than most of the biodegradable alternatives currently available. We need tree shelters that are study enough to survive at least 5 years, with anticipated removal by year 7. Meanwhile, many of the biodegradable products on the market have a life expectancy of only 3 to 5 years. We will also use a take back scheme for the plastic shelters once their purpose has been served.
Protecting our young trees from browsing herbivores is very important. Wild deer, especially native species, are a significant and valued part of our natural heritage. Due to several factors (including changes in land use and lack of natural predators) deer density has dramatically increased and poses a significant risk to our woodlands, other animals that rely on this environment, and deer themselves. Therefore it is very important that we do all we can to protect our new woodlands and keep any pedestrian access gates closed at all times.
If you are aware of any issues on site, for example deer have accessed a fenced site, a tree has fallen on a fence line or a gate is not functioning correctly please get in touch with the tree planting team on 07738 500993 or [email protected]
How to get involved
We couldn’t achieve our ambitious tree planting targets without the help of our wonderful volunteers.
There are several ways you can support our mission:
Volunteer at a tree planting event: search on local community boards and forums, we will also update this page with information about public planting events in the new woodlands we are establishing this winter
Plant a tree in your garden: there is lots of advice on what species to plant, how to plant it and maintenance and care afterwards on the Woodland Trust website
If you don’t have a garden you can apply to plant a tree on council land
If you represent a local group or school you can apply for free trees and in some cases additional support from organisations like the Woodland Trust and the Tree Council
For more information about Bucks Tree Mission Visit Bucks tree planting Schemes.