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Glasgow to plant 18m trees in 10 years — that’s 10 trees for every resident!

7 min read

Sustainable Planet
Glasgow to plant 18m trees in 10 years — that’s 10 trees for every resident!
Source: Facebook/GlasgowCityCouncil

The COP26 host city’s Clyde Climate Forest project aims to plant 10 trees for every man, woman and child in Greater Glasgow over next ten years as part of a new urban forest to tackle climate change and protect local nature.

Glasgow’s Clyde Climate Forest to provide “green lungs” for region

Ambitious planting plans pledged to make Glasgow greener as a new scheme will see 10 trees planted for every human in Glasgow City Region. The pledge lies at the heart of the new Clyde Climate Forest and will breathe new life across the eight local authorities in the region. Around 18 million trees will be planted over the next decade, increasing woodland cover in the region from 17% to 20%, according to the Glasgow Times.

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, and schoolchildren, as urban forest plan launched.
The plan is to plant ten trees for every person in Glasgow City Region. Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, and schoolchildren, as urban forest plan launched. Source: Facebook/GlasgowCityCouncil
Over the next decade, ten trees for every man, woman and child in Glasgow City Region will be planted as part of a new urban 'forest' to tackle climate change.
Green lungs for Glasgow. Over the next decade, ten trees for every man, woman and child in Glasgow City Region will be planted as part of a new urban ‘forest’ to tackle climate change. Source: Unsplash/Phil Reid
The ambitious planting pledge lies at the heart of the new Clyde Climate Forest, which is part of the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network, and will breathe new life across the eight local authorities in the region.
A breath of fresh air for the city. The ambitious planting pledge lies at the heart of the new Clyde Climate Forest, which is part of the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network, and will breathe new life across the eight local authorities in the region. Source: Unsplash/Adam Marikar
The move is being viewed as an ideal opportunity for Glasgow City Region to demonstrate its commitment to reaching Net Zero, as it hosts COP26 in November.
Around 18 million trees will be planted over the next decade, increasing woodland cover in the region from 17% to 20%. The move is being viewed as an ideal opportunity for Glasgow City Region to demonstrate its commitment to reaching Net Zero, as it hosts COP26 in November. Source: Unsplash/George Kourounis

new inter-connected forest will provide many lasting benefits

Councillor Andrew Polson, Joint Leader of East Dunbartonshire Council and Chair of the Land Use and Sustainability Portfolio for Glasgow City Region, said: 

"Trees are nature’s own green lungs, improving the air that we breathe and soaking up harmful CO2 emissions from our environment. Expanding Glasgow City Region’s woodlands to create a new inter-connected forest will provide many lasting benefits.  There are opportunities for communities, schools, businesses and landowners to get involved in our planting mission. We all have a fantastic opportunity to work collectively to improve our living environment whilst tackling climate change at the same time."

The new planting aims to connect these woodlands and help restore nature and boost biodiversity.
There are around 29,000 hectares of broadleaved woodland in the region, but they are fragmented due to urban development. The new planting aims to connect these woodlands and help restore nature and boost biodiversity. Source: Unsplash/Euan Cameron

tremendous support for project across Scotland

Welcoming the launch of the Clyde Climate Forest, Mairi McAllan, Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform said: "

This is a significant and well timed initiative showcasing all that is good in tree planting as we approach COP26. It is also a first for Scotland, with eight local authorities working together with government and other partners on a major woodland creation initiative.  Tree planting is key to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss and there is tremendous support for it across Scotland. The Clyde Climate Forest taps into this and the benefits will last for generations."

Working to the principle of 'the right tree in the right place', the project team aims to plant trees in areas of deprivation, former coalmining sites, vacant and derelict land, urban streets and other civic places.
The right tree in the right place. Working to the principle of ‘the right tree in the right place’, the project team aims to plant trees in areas of deprivation, former coalmining sites, vacant and derelict land, urban streets and other civic places. Source: Unsplash/Craig Bradford
As part of the long-term plans, the project team at Clyde Climate Forest is calling on community groups and land managers to help them identify places to plant new trees, or replace ones that have been lost in the past.
Working with the community. As part of the long-term plans, the project team at Clyde Climate Forest is calling on community groups and land managers to help them identify places to plant new trees, or replace ones that have been lost in the past. Source: Unsplash/Pete Crockett
They are being offered free woodland assessments to help them identify potential new areas to be greened up with trees.
Work is also beginning to encourage smaller land owners and local authorities to gear up for tree planting. They are being offered free woodland assessments to help them identify potential new areas to be greened up with trees. Source: Unsplash/Grant Elliott

extensive economic, ecological and social benefits expected

Launching the initiative Councillor Aitken, Chair of Glasgow City Region Cabinet and Leader of Glasgow City Council, added: 

"This year we have an opportunity to shine a spotlight on Glasgow City Region and showcase how we are planning to adapt to and mitigate climate change while allowing nature to thrive and grow.  New community woodlands, trees and forests will bring multiple benefits to our local communities as well as wildlife. The pandemic has brought into focus like never before the value of local spaces as places to exercise, de-stress and engage with nature and this project can help to deliver the Green Recovery. The economic, ecological and social benefits will be extensive"

As part of corporate social responsibility commitments, businesses within Glasgow City Region are being encouraged to get their staff involved with community tree planting projects.
Everyone is being asked to get involved. As part of corporate social responsibility commitments, businesses within Glasgow City Region are being encouraged to get their staff involved with community tree planting projects. Source: Unsplash/Grant Elliott
This demonstrates their commitment to reducing emissions across their business supporting the fight against climate change.
Businesses and other organisations can invest in the Clyde Climate Forest if they sign up to a new charter. This demonstrates their commitment to reducing emissions across their business supporting the fight against climate change. Source: Unsplash/Eilis Garvey
but also through funding mechanisms that the Clyde Climate Forest can lever. Community groups and individuals can also donate.
The majority of woodland planting will be funded through Scottish Forestry’s various grant schemes, but also through funding mechanisms that the Clyde Climate Forest can lever. Community groups and individuals can also donate. Source: Unsplash/Ross Sneddon

a place for nature to connect

Dave Signorini, Chief Executive of Scottish Forestry said: 

"The Clyde Climate Forest will deliver social and economic benefit to the population of the City Region. It will also provide a place for nature to connect, recover and thrive.  Planting trees can help us reduce our carbon footprint and strengthen communities. Scottish Forestry is always ready to advise on the range of forestry grants that are on offer so that we can collectively get more trees in the ground."

All details and information in this article are from the Glasgow City Council website. All photos are of Glasgow, via Unsplash. Read the Clyde Climate Forest Synopsis

as well as £150,000 from Scottish Forestry over the next two years to recruit a project team and kick-start the development of new planting schemes.
The project secured a £400,000 grant from the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund… as well as £150,000 from Scottish Forestry over the next two years to recruit a project team and kick-start the development of new planting schemes. Source: Unsplash/Phil Reid
with support from Green Action Trust, TCV, Glasgow City Region, Trees for Cities, Scottish Forestry and Woodland Trust Scotland.
The Clyde Climate Forest is being delivered as part of the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network, with support from Green Action Trust, TCV, Glasgow City Region, Trees for Cities, Scottish Forestry and Woodland Trust Scotland. Source: Unsplash/Ryan Denny
Individuals and community groups can donate to the Clyde Climate Forest project through www.mypark.scot/ccf.  For business donations, contact business@clydeclimateforest.co.uk
Everyone can chip in. Individuals and community groups can donate to the Clyde Climate Forest project through www.mypark.scot/ccf.  For business donations, contact business@clydeclimateforest.co.uk Source: Unsplash/Pete Crockett
This is when world leaders are expected to set much tougher targets to combat global heating, as evidence grows that the world is close to breaching the 1.5C limit agreed in the Paris climate treaty in 2016.
Glasgow is the host city for the Cop26 climate talks in November. This is when world leaders are expected to set much tougher targets to combat global heating, as evidence grows that the world is close to breaching the 1.5C limit agreed in the Paris climate treaty in 2016. Source: Unsplash/Russel White
the flooding, landslips and erosion expected to threaten outlying communities, rail links and roads, as well as absorbing CO2 emissions and restoring lost biodiversity.
Echoing similar programmes by cities and regions across the UK, the scheme is expected to help mitigate the worst effects of climate heating – the flooding, landslips and erosion expected to threaten outlying communities, rail links and roads, as well as absorbing CO2 emissions and restoring lost biodiversity. Source: Unsplash/Miguel Vieira
All of the images in this article were taken in Glasgow, of Glasgow. It would have been easy to use random stock images of trees, but Glasgow and it’s inhabitants deserve better. It’s a fantastic city with bags of heart and character, and this forestry project is great news for all Glaswegians. All images via Unsplash.
Please note: all photographs taken in Glasgow — All of the images in this article were taken in Glasgow, of Glasgow. It would have been easy to use random stock images of trees, but Glasgow and it’s inhabitants deserve better. It’s a fantastic city with bags of heart and character, and this forestry project is great news for all Glaswegians. All images via Unsplash. Source: Unsplash/Liza Pooor
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