Watford Borough Council has achieved another significant milestone in its commitment to environmental sustainability with 197 trees being planted across the town this year...
This achievement, made possible through the generous support of the Forestry Commission’s Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF) amounting to £73,203, marks a pivotal moment in Watford's efforts to increase tree canopy cover.
The funding will enable the planting of 115 trees, in addition to the 82 trees funded by the council earlier this month, further enriching the town's landscape. When combining the two schemes, 168 of the trees will be in public streets, surpassing the previous street tree planting record last year of 122. The remaining 29 trees will be in parks. Additionally, 300 new tree saplings will be planted in Lea Farm Recreation Ground and Woodside Playing Fields.
The distribution of trees across various locations within Watford, including parks and streets, demonstrates a concerted effort to ensure a widespread impact and maximise the benefits for local communities. The following neighbourhoods have received trees as part of this initiative, which were based on available locations:
- Vicarage - 7
- Callowland - 21
- Holywell - 14
- Woodside - 13
- Central - 15
- Stanborough -21
- Tudor - 21
- Leggatts - 7
- Oxhey - 20
- Meriden - 17
- Nascot - 20
- Park - 21
These new plantings not only contribute to the town's aesthetics, but also play a crucial role in mitigating climate change, enhancing air quality, and fostering a healthier urban environment for residents and wildlife alike.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “This new funding will help us plant even more trees in Watford to improve air quality and make the town an even better place to live. It also demonstrates our commitment to becoming a net-zero carbon town by 2030. In addition, I’m delighted that we have made such fantastic progress in meeting my target of planting 20,000 trees by 2026.”
Councillor Kennedy Rodrigues, Portfolio Holder for Parks, said: "The council’s planting of nearly 200 street trees marks a big step in our commitment to a greener town. Thanks to the support from the Local Authority Treescapes Funding, we're enhancing our landscape and improving the environment.
“These trees won't just beautify our neighbourhoods; they'll help fight climate change, clean our air, and create a healthier urban space for everyone—both people and wildlife. This initiative shows our dedication to a more sustainable future for Watford.”
Many of the tree locations were suggested by residents, and requests can still be submitted throughout the year at www.watford.gov.uk/treeplanting.
