Buckinghamshire's tree planting season wraps up with thousands of new trees

From a new Tiny Forest in High Wycombe, to a small but mighty new woodland by the M25, the trees planted this year are predicted to save over 2,500 tonnes of carbon over 100 years – which is roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of 543 cars or the annual energy use of 384 homes.

Tree planting is one of the important ways in which Buckinghamshire Council is working towards its goal of achieving net zero no later than 2050 as part of its Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy.

Other new woodlands the council has created this planting season include Innisfree Wood in Great Missenden, Huntsmoor Park Wood in Iver and Lower Munt’s Wood in Saunderton. The woodland at Saunderton is being completed with help from the local community at volunteer planting events later in March.

At the new Isle of Wight Wood in Gerrards Cross, 2,020 trees were planted over a 1.1ha site, with a mix of broadleaf species including silver birch, wild cherry, hornbeam, small-leaved lime and oak, alongside shrubs, including field maple, hazel and hawthorn. Within the site is a dedicated area that has been left for natural colonisation – a more energy and resource efficient approach to woodland creation that the council is exploring for the first time. This approach maximises the opportunity for trees around the site to set seed and grow, and the newly established trees will be monitored and protected as they grow.

As the site is adjacent to one of the heaviest-used sections of the M25, it is hoped that in time this new woodland will deliver additional ecosystem services including improved air quality and noise reduction along with habitat, food and refuge for wildlife.

In addition to establishing new woodlands the council will manage over future years, tree planting has also taken place in partnership with Chiltern Rangers, supporting their woodland management at Keep Hill Wood in High Wycombe.

Thomas Broom, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said:

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to everybody who participated in this year’s tree planting, from the schools and volunteer groups to residents who happened to be walking past and decided to pick up a spade and get involved. It’s a real community effort to keep the Bucks Tree Mission going and everybody’s hard work is much appreciated.

“It has been a challenging season, with the team overcoming many obstacles, including fencing materials being stolen from on site, challenging access arrangements, and of course the weather. But despite this we are on track to complete the planting we had planned for this year.

“Tree planting is one of the most important ways we are working to reduce carbon emissions in Buckinghamshire. Trees enhance our environment, help biodiversity, create more space for nature to grow and thrive, and improve public health and wellbeing. I’m delighted that thanks to another successful tree planting season, we now have thousands more trees thriving in Buckinghamshire.”

To find out more about tree planting in Buckinghamshire, including how you can get involved, visit: Tree planting season 2024-25

YouTube video: Thomas Broom, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, speaking from the Isle of Wight Wood in Gerrards Cross.