Consultation Draft Bolsover Tree and Woodland Strategy

A tree and woodland inventory is a vital tool for understanding the full extent of tree assets across the district. It provides a baseline overview of the structure of the urban and rural treescape - including the number of trees, species diversity, and age distribution - which is essential for informed planning, management, and future monitoring.

To be effective, inventory methodology must reflect the nature of the assets being assessed. Individual trees, such as those covered by risk management protocols or Tree Preservation Orders, can often be recorded in detail. In contrast, woodland areas or large tree groups are more efficiently assessed using sampling techniques, which provide reliable data for larger populations at a lower cost. Sample inventories are particularly useful when working across mixed ownerships, where access may be limited. In such cases, a combination of remote sensing and targeted site visits can effectively gather the required information without extensive on-the-ground surveys.

Woodland assets require clear and proactive management to support their long-term ecological value and public benefit. At present, some woodlands may lack formal oversight, relying instead on reactive maintenance such as hazard reduction or trail upkeep. Moving toward consistent, strategic management across all sites is essential to safeguard these valuable resources.

Operational or management plans provide a framework to guide day-to-day decision- making and long-term objectives. At a basic level, they ensure public access is safe and infrastructure is maintained. However, at their most effective, these plans go further- embedding biodiversity goals, climate adaptation measures, and community engagement while balancing ecological health with recreational use.

Each key woodland should ideally have a tailored management plan that reflects its unique character, pressures, and potential. Plans should address issues such as invasive species control, habitat restoration, woodland structure, species diversity, and visitor impact.

Trees and woodlands provide vital benefits that, although sometimes difficult to quantify, are increasingly recognised for their role in climate resilience, biodiversity and human well- being. Promoting these contributions is crucial for their protection and integration into local strategies.

One of the key roles of trees and woodlands is their contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Trees and woodlands moderate extremes of heat, filter air pollution, and provide shade, making spaces more liveable and enjoyable during hotter summers. Yet, despite their numerous benefits, trees are often overlooked and undervalued.

Recognising and valuing the services that trees provide enables more informed decisions around planting and management - benefiting both current and future generations. It also supports better communication of the importance of trees to the public, planners, and developers, helping to promote the protection of existing trees as well as encouraging new planting. Tools such as i-Tree Eco can be used to quantify the benefits of trees-also known as Ecosystem Services (ESS)-while providing valuable insights into the structure and composition of the urban forest.

Tree Canopy Cover (TCC) is the proportion of land covered by tree leaves and branches when viewed from above. It's a simple, cost-effective way to measure tree presence and is widely used to assess ecosystem services such as air quality, carbon storage, and cooling.

There are many methods of assessing canopy cover at this scale, including i-Tree Canopy, i- Tree Eco, Sentinel satellite data, and Bluesky National Tree Map, etc. These methods are not directly comparable with each other as they use different metrics and definitions of what constitutes canopy cover. Therefore, it is important to be consistent in the chosen method over time, allowing for reliable tracking of canopy change and helping to inform long-term planning, target setting, and the evaluation of tree strategies.

A canopy cover study was carried out by Treeconomics using Google Environmental Explorer (refer to Appendix 5.2) which found Bolsover currently has almost 2,800 hectares of tree canopy cover, covering 17.5% of the district. There is a large variation across the wards, with the lowest canopy cover found in Bolsover East ward, and the highest in Langwith ward. Bolsover is working towards an ambition to achieve 20% canopy cover.

Expanding canopy cover in wards with low coverage is essential for promoting equity in access to green infrastructure, as well as supporting climate resilience and biodiversity. Tree equity is the idea that all communities have equitable access to the benefits of trees where they live. As shown in E1, canopy cover varies widely across wards within the district. Bolsover aims to progress equality in all spheres of social and economic life and empower and engage local communities to effect positive change.

Data from canopy assessments (e.g. i-Tree or Bluesky National Tree Map) can be used to identify gaps and monitor progress over time. Engagement with local communities will also be key to identifying suitable planting sites and ensuring trees are valued, protected, and maintained.

Tree Equity Score UK (produced by the Woodland Trust) currently only includes urban areas. Canopy cover should be assessed alongside other data sets, such as air quality and indices of multiple deprivation, to ensure that areas not covered by the map are not overlooked. This target aims to ensure that the planting and management of the urban forest focus on areas where it will most benefit local people.

Community-led tree and woodland planting offers an accessible and meaningful way to engage residents in climate action, biodiversity, and the enhancement of local green spaces. By encouraging community planting projects, the Council can promote a sense of shared responsibility and environmental stewardship.

These projects can take many forms-from small-scale village green plantings to larger woodland creation schemes. When communities are involved from the start, they're more likely to value and care for the trees in the long term, ensuring higher survival rates and greater public support.

Bolsover District Council is committed to enhancing its existing woodland assets to bolster biodiversity, improve climate resilience, and provide accessible green spaces for residents. Key sites such as Fox Green and Lark Rise Woods in Creswell are central to these planting efforts, with plans to expand and interconnect these areas through strategic tree establishment and habitat restoration.

This initiative aligns with the Council's ambition to plant many more trees across the district. Collaborations with partners like the Woodland Trust and Bolsover Woodlands Enterprise are key to achieving these goals, ensuring that the expansion of woodland areas contributes to environmental sustainability and community well-being.

Delivering new woodland creation at scale will require dedicated, long-term resourcing. To secure these resources, the Council will pursue a range of funding mechanisms:

1. External government funding, directed at different stakeholders, including:

• England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) – for urban, peri-urban, and rural trees, including street tree replacements.

2. Funding from major NGOs and charitable sources, such as:

• Woodland Trust's Emergency Tree Fund, which supports local authorities in accelerating tree planting and woodland expansion.

3. Levies and planning obligations, secured through the development process:

• Seeking funding through Section 106 agreements and biodiversity net gain obligations. Best practice recommends that developments offset or exceed tree loss using meaningful, fully funded metrics.

Tree Wardens and Tree Champions play a vital role in supporting the stewardship of trees at the local level. Across the UK, many councils and communities have successfully empowered volunteers to become active participants in protecting, planting, and promoting trees in their neighbourhoods. Bolsover District has an opportunity to expand this model and build a stronger network of local advocates.

Partnering with national initiatives such as the Tree Council's Tree Warden Scheme or developing a bespoke district-wide programme can foster civic pride and strengthen long- term care for trees. Promoting the role through parish councils, schools, community groups, and residents' associations will help build capacity and encourage inclusive participation.

Collaborating with smaller community groups such as volunteers, schools and charity groups can encourage further community involvement with projects in small neighbourhoods and wider district areas, which would benefit the whole district. Neighbourhood activities often help the community members to connect more with their trees and woodlands, and encouraging communities to get involved will reduce the likelihood of conflict or opposition to tree planting.

Creating an interactive Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP) such as those completed in Paris and New York may be a useful tool for engaging the public. It is a research methodology, community organising approach and partnership mapping tool developed by the USDA which shows who is responsible for the local environment. It has never been done in the UK and could be an invaluable tool to engage local residents and establish a network of UF management teams across the Borough.

In order for the strategy to be considered a true success, the most powerful legacy is that the residents love, respect, appreciate and care for its trees. Community initiatives could provide an invaluable opportunity to promote the progress made by the district in terms of urban greening and green infrastructure.

Widely publicising events all year round - making good use of digital communications and social media - such as National Tree Week (usually in late November to early December), Arbor Day, planting days (winter time) and outdoor events, will bring focus onto Mid & East Antrim's trees and woodlands, encouraging participation from those that live and work locally.

Effective cooperation with utility providers - both above and below ground - is essential for safeguarding trees, hedges, and woodlands across Bolsover District. This includes working with companies responsible for electricity, gas, water, telecoms, fibre-optics, and rail infrastructure, as well as insurers in relation to subsidence claims.

Utility companies are legally required to manage vegetation that may interfere with their infrastructure - typically through pruning, root protection, and site clearance. However, inconsistent practices can cause unnecessary harm to trees and habitats. While national standards guide some activities, stronger local collaboration can help align these actions with Bolsover's environmental goals.

Promoting best practice and building partnerships will protect green infrastructure while supporting utility operations - key to achieving the Tree and Woodland Strategy's broader aims.

The 'green industry' includes a broad range of professions involved in tree and vegetation management. Engaging with it offers Bolsover District a valuable opportunity to influence how forest resources-especially on private land-are managed. Close cooperation can promote best practices in planting, maintenance, and protection, supporting long-term sustainability.

Key sectors for targeted collaboration include:

• Farming – Encouraging agroforestry, hedgerow management, and tree planting to enhance biodiversity and resilience.
• Forestry – Supporting sustainable woodland management and responsible harvesting practices.
• Tree Surgery & Arboriculture – Promoting professional tree care and preservation.
• Renewable Energy (Wind & Solar) – Ensuring that tree and vegetation management aligns with both environmental and energy goals.