The Arboricultural Association supports The Mayor of London’s commitment to trees within the draft Mayor’s Transport Strategy, but advises that a commitment to the effective management of those trees is just as vital.
The Mayor of London’s draft Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS) is now open for public consultation.
The Arboricultural Association is very pleased that specific reference to trees growing within London’s road system and transport network has been made within the MTS. Under the category “healthy streets and healthy people”, Proposal 41 states that:
The Mayor, through TfL and the boroughs, will retain existing trees and plant new ones on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) and borough roads to protect tree canopy cover. Street tree numbers on the TLRN will be increased by 1 per cent every year between 2016 and 2025; and the Mayor will encourage boroughs to increase the numbers of street trees along their streets.
The Association is particularly pleased to note that not only is a commitment to retain existing trees being proposed, but that tree numbers will be increased on the TLRN every year until 2025; and that boroughs will be encouraged to increase their own street tree populations.
The Association supports Proposal 41, but will be clear within its submission that although retaining and planting trees is a welcome and important commitment, it is also vital that despite ongoing public sector financial pressures, both TFL and the London boroughs ensure that arboricultural professionals are retained and engaged, to make certain that our hugely important tree assets are maintained and managed effectively.
Within page 55 of the draft strategy document The Mayor pledges that “Planting street trees and other high-quality planting and greening” is one of 16 key points to fulfilling the ‘healthy streets healthy people’ approach.
The organisation continues to campaign years for trees to be higher on the urban planning agenda and in July lobbied MPs to do more to recognise the issues facing professional tree care, as well as recently responding to Michael Gove’s announcement on tree planting targets.
Read the full consultation here:
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/policy/mayors-transport-strategy/user_uploads/pub16_001_mts_online-2.pdf