Thousands of mid Cheshire’s trees are being protected for the future, according to one of the area’s largest landowners.
Following a major survey, Weaver Vale Housing Trust has pledged to safeguard all the 2,050 trees on open land belonging to them.
The trust has also promised to replace those it is forced to remove on a like-for-like basis.
Julia Chambres, the trust’s open space team leader, said: “Safeguarding the environment is one of our top priorities.
“That is why we will look to plant new trees as part of our ongoing neighbourhood improvement programme and also plant a new tree for every one we have to remove.
“It is a really sad day when we have to cut down a tree but sometimes this is necessary for health and safety reasons or because the tree is dying.
“The good news is that we won’t lose any from the overall stock and will actually add to it.”
The pledge comes as part of continuing improvements made by the trust’s relaunched Neighbourhood Services team, which also involves new partnerships with Cheshire West and Chester Council, Northwich Town Council and other organisations.
A multi-agency pilot project, called My Home is My Castle, saw grot spots in Castle being tackled by the groups.
“Attractive green spaces improve health and wellbeing and are proven to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime,” Julia said.
“We are doing everything we can to transform neighbourhoods for the good of all customers and residents.
“By working together even more can be achieved.”
Weaver Vale Housing Trust, which is responsible for more than 600,000 square metres of common green space – or the equivalent of 1,303 tennis courts – is also creating a woodland walk area in Crook Lane, in Wharton, and recently carried out environmental improvements at Queen Elizabeth House, in Church Road, in Northwich, in response to residents’ requests.
The tree-mapping exercise did not include the trees in more than 5,000 individual Weaver Vale Housing Trust gardens, all of which are legally protected and the responsibility of customers to maintain.
