Trees and Woodlands

The Council's Arboricultural team provides a specialist arboricultural and landscape consultancy service to Planning and Development and to other designated service areas of Cheshire East Council. The teams responsibilities are varied and include participation into Green Infrastructure policy, The Regional Forestry Framework, and Climate Change. Support and advice is provided in the following specialist areas:

Policy

Contribute to the development of Planning Policy as it relates to trees and landscape and to assist with the preparation of the Local Development Framework, Supplementary Planning Documents, Section 106 Agreements and formulation of new policies and guidance relating to trees.

Legislation

Provide advice and support to Development Management on the impact of development proposals on trees and liasing with applicants, agents and other specialist consultants as part of the planning process. Administering and enforcement of Tree Preservation Orders ,Trees in Conservation Areas, Tree Work Applications, High Hedges, Important Hedgerows and Dangerous Trees.

Guidance

Specialist advice and guidance on tree related matters to other services within the Council including Leisure (Parks and Recreation), Highways, Property management, Legal Services, Cheshire Farms and Schools.

Officers are available to provide general advice to the public on tree matters within the Borough.

Benefits of Trees

Trees and woodlands provide considerable aethetic, social and health benefits, contributing to the landscape and appearance of the Borough, enhancing the quality of life of residents within Cheshire East and playing an important role in sustainable communities.

Cheshire East Council is committed  to protect trees and woodland within its area and will seek to encourage new planting and woodland management to conserve and enhance the quality of the landscape in order to provide a pleasant and sustainable environment for future generations.

Air Quality/Saving Energy

Trees can improve air quality by absorbing airbourne pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide and filtering small particulates on their leaves, stems and twigs.Trees can provide shelter and reduce windspeed, reducing building energy use by lowering temperatures, shading buildings and producing a general cooling effect during the summer.

Climate Change

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations are at their highest level for 3 million years, and global temperatures have increased by about 0.6^◦C in the last 150 years. It is suggested that average annual temperatures may increase between 1^◦C and 5^◦C by 2080s. The outlook for climate change in the UK is for substantially longer drier summers with an increase generally in the intensity of rainfall. Trees can remove (sequester) carbon dioxide (CO₂₎ from the atmosphere during photosynthesis to form carbohydrates that are used in plant functions and return oxygen back to the atmosphere. Trees can therefore contribute to reducing the effects of greenhouse gases by storing carbon through this process.

Economic Benefits

Studies have shown that property values can increase in tree lined areas and values may be 5-15% more than areas without trees. Trees also enhance community economic stability by attracting  business, tourism and other investments to the area.

Social Benefits

Trees within appropriately designed landscaped areas have the potential to reduce crime rates and aggression. Research has identified that exposure to natural surroundings and vegetation can reduce levels of mental fatigue, a factor in heightened propensity for anger and violence. Studies have also shown that hospital patients with a view of trees outside their hospital window recover much faster than patients without such views.

Wildlife

Trees are an important wildlife habitat,providing nesting sites and a source of food for birds and other wildlife species. Bats in particular may also use trees for feeding on insects, roosting, shelter and as a territorial marker. Bat roosts may use cavities, splits and cracks in trees.