Tree planting schemes

We’ve committed to planting approximately 543,000 trees on council-owned land over the next 10 years. This work involves planting in parks and schools as well as planting in fields to create new woodlands.

Across the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 planting seasons, we planted almost 193,000 trees.

When establishing a new woodland, we always start with a Woodland Creation Design Plan. These plans make sure the right tree is planted in the right place.

Billet Field Wood on the edge of Black Park Country Park is the first wood we've created.

In February and March 2022 we planted 3,450 trees and shrubs across a space the size of 3 football fields.

Volunteers helped to plant the last 375 trees.

During winter 2023/24, we created 2 further woods:

• 14,300 trees and shrubs across a site of over 7 hectares at Bury Farm, Amersham
• 14,700 trees and shrubs across a site of nearly 7.2 hectares at Grange Farm, Hazlemere

We've selected tree species that are appropriate to the sites' chalky soils and are typically found in the local area and woodlands, including:

• wild service tree
• hazel tree
• crab apple tree

These choices will increase the chance of the trees surviving and create climate resilience for the existing ancient woodlands around the sites.

Tree planting at all locations has been supported by funding through the Forestry Commissions England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO).

All gates will be positioned close to existing rights of way for easy access to the woodland.

Both sites will be fully accessible by 2033 when the trees will be well established.

We've been working with Forestry England to establish Wing Wood, a brand new woodland just outside Wing in the north of Buckinghamshire.

Across two planting seasons (2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024) 132,000 trees have now been planted by Forestry England on a 51-hectare plot of council-owned land (previously used as farmland).

This has created:

• a green space for local people
• a valuable habitat for wildlife
• a sustainable source of timber

The trees planted are a mix of 25 different species suited to the locality, plus additional specially selected local fruit trees for the orchard.

When work is fully completed, the woodland will also include:

• new wildlife ponds
• accessible walking paths
• a community orchard

A community planting day was held on 10 February 2024, with volunteers from the local community planting over 600 trees on site.

There will be access for the public throughout Wing Wood and paths will join up to existing public rights of way (PROWs).

Consultation

As part of the final decision to create the new woodland, we held a public consultation in 2022. This involved national, regional and local stakeholders and formed part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA).

View the public consultation and our response PDF, 670 KB

Wing Wood Stakeholder Group

Following completion of all the planting, in April 2023 we held the first meeting for local stakeholders (Forestry England, Wing Parish Council, local Councillors and the Wing & Ivinghoe Community Board).