Tree and woodland strategies/policies
Tree and woodland strategies, or tree policies, can be useful tools for managing the urban forest, and may suit some local authorities. Adopting a tree strategy or policy can in some circumstances provide a consistent approach for looking after all the trees on a local authority’s own land, as well as, and where appropriate, supporting the management of trees that make an important contribution to public amenity on private land.
If it is thought that a tree strategy or policy would be of benefit to your authority, it should be taken into consideration that unless tree officers are properly supported and resourced in order to be able to deliver and implement the policy, or the aims and objectives of a tree strategy, then the document will not achieve its function.
Ideally the production of such a document for a local authority should be led by the authority’s tree officer who is actually responsible for managing the tree population.
Listed below are links providing advice on tree strategies at a regional and national level, and local authority tree strategies/policies that have been provided as examples of what is appropriate for their individual authorities. (The Association of Tree Officers does not endorse the examples listed below but hopes the examples will give some indication as to what some local authorities have in place at present).
Guidance on preparing Tree and Woodland Strategies:
Local Authority examples of tree and woodland strategies and policies:
- London Borough of Barnet - Tree Policy (2023)
- London Borough of Camden – Tree Policy (2015)
- Norwich City Council – Landscape and Trees,Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (2016)
- Torbay Council - Trees and Woodland Framework (2013) & Tree Risk Management Strategy (2017)
- Belfast City Council - Tree Strategy 2023 -2033
Local Authority example of a Tree Planting Strategy
London Borough of Camden's Tree Planting Strategy 2020 - 2025
