Nature and resilience
A tree for every citizen
Coventry is particularly blessed with a large and extensive tree canopy. In fact, it can be argued that this canopy characterises the city. The Council is responsible for the management of over 45,000 individual trees in parks, highways, and other green spaces and an estimated 200,000 woodland trees. The importance of trees is becoming increasingly recognised not least through global changes which are and will affect everyone on the planet:
• Trees are important in our efforts to combat climate change capturing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
• They help keep the air in our city clean by absorbing pollutants.
• They help keep our streets cool and provide shade from ultraviolet light.
• They hold water on their surface helping with flood alleviation.
• They provide a valuable food and habitat resource supporting countless birds, animals, and invertebrates.
• Trees are great for people's health and well-being and for bringing people together.
• They also have an economic value, provide a potential and sustainable source of energy but they also increase property values.
The Council has committed to an ambitious plan to plant 360,000 trees for every member of Coventry’s population over the life of the strategy: a tree for every citizen.
In 2020, the Council planted 2,100 new trees in a small woodland extension.
In 2021, the Council planted 20,000 new trees in several parks to create new woodland areas.
This year, the Council aims to plant over 20,000 new trees in sites across the city to create new woodland. They also aim to plant nearly a thousand semi mature trees in our streets and parks.
Urban forestry strategy
In 2022, Coventry has drafted its first-ever Urban Forestry Strategy 2022-2032, which seeks to “protect, promote, sustain and enhance our urban forest and to recognise its contribution towards the character, appearance and economy of Coventry for the benefit of all those who live, work and visit the area.”
It has also joined the Trees for Streets National Street Tree Sponsorship Scheme, the national street tree sponsorship scheme from the urban tree charity Trees for Cities, funded by the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund and City Bridge Trust. This “Tech for Good” project uses technology to empower people and makes it easy for residents and organisations to get involved in greening their communities.