Lib Dems provide 113,000 new trees for Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire will be greener and leafier than ever, after the Lib Dem-run county council confirmed it will plant 113,000 new trees this year.

The figure exceeds the original target of 101,000.

It’s 25,000 trees more than the former Tory administration planted last year.

The majority of the saplings are given free to residents to plant in their own gardens, through the expansion of the ‘Your Tree, Our Future’ scheme. 94,000 of these have already been handed out.

Thousands of people collected their trees from outlets in each of Hertfordshire’s ten boroughs this weekend.

Professional guidance is available to help care for the tree as it grows.

Hertfordshire County Council is also providing trees for a wide range of other uses, including highway verges, community orchards, hedgerows and new woodland.

The council offers Environmental Improvement Grants, which give local landowners funding and expert advice to deliver habitat creation and enhancement projects.

The major increase in tree-planting comes after Liberal Democrats took control of the authority in May.

The party made a commitment to protecting and enhancing Hertfordshire’s local environment.

Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, Lib Dem cabinet member for environment at the county council, said:

“We are determined to make Hertfordshire a better and greener place to live. That’s why we’ve striven to beat our ambitious target for 101,000 new trees in this financial year - and succeeded.

“We all know trees bring many benefits. Now, by enlarging the Your Tree, Our Future scheme, even more Hertfordshire residents can have a beautiful new sapling for their garden - and play their part in trapping carbon and increasing biodiversity. 

“It was great to see so many people collect their trees this weekend, and I hope they really enjoy them.

“I’d like to thank the borough and district councils, and charities, and all the staff and volunteers, who’ve helped make this year’s project the most successful ever”.

For more information about ‘Your Tree Our Future’ and how you can get involved in future initiatives, visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/yourtree