Consultation Draft Bolsover Tree and Woodland Strategy

Mapping of potential plantable space in soft and hard landscapes which is to include: tree equity and planting priority assessment; the exclusion of known sights with existing constraints against tree planting; and potential sites for woodland expansion.

Collate existing woodland management plans and identify sites where new management plans are required. Build resource within the Council to enable implementation of these management plans. Collaborate with partners and community groups to identify potential sites for woodland expansion (may be informed by Opportunity Mapping).

The district wide system is to include all BCC-owned and community-reported tree and woodland assets, and include GIS capabilities.

Program is to track and monitor cases of TPO and conservation area violations to ensure consistent enforcement of penalties. Training will be provided for BDC's enforcement team on trees, hedges & woodlands.

Promote the work of the existing tree champions/tree wardens/community planting projects across the District. Create (and publish) a map of community groups/ tree wardens, and work with wards with no wardens or champions to recruit and connect them.

Scope and implement Section 106 funding for impact mitigation. Create a dedicated officer role/responsibility for bid/funding application, and establish an ongoing bid writing process which enables BDC to secure funding for each coming planting

season. Amongst other things, funding will be used to support:

- Staff to enable proactive management of existing tree and woodland assets including

- woodland expansion and further bid writing

- The development and implementation of woodland management plans

- The undertaking of a sample-based survey of public and private trees across the District

Communicate openly with the public surrounding this plan, the urban forest as a whole, and the wider environment. BDC will:

- Publish on BDC website the consultation feedback received during the preparation of this Strategy to act as a baseline for the general appreciations of trees as a community resource.

- Organise annual community workshop and community group to coordinate delivery of District goals, launch May 2026. BDC and Tree Wardens to provide support to community groups.

- Coordinate existing community volunteers delivering/ attending community events to engage with community members and encourage new volunteers to attend an introduction/ welcome to the tree wardens group.

- Promote the impact of new tree establishment and care for existing trees across the District on the BDC website and at community events on an ongoing basis.

- Increase awareness and define the role of trees regarding meeting climate resilience targets/retrofitting opportunities, linking to wider industries (e.g. building, energy).

- Publicly promote the benefits of the District's trees using canopy cover data from the baseline assessment, and share this via the BDC website.

Further enhance canopy cover through coordinated tree establishment and proactive care for existing trees. Launch annual planning sessions with delivery partners to coordinate tree establishment, and organise an annual tree establishment planning workshop with all community groups and BDC to co-ordinate projects across the District. Support parish partners to plan tree or woodland planting projects and secure funding.

Appoint one member of BDC to be a point of contact for all utilities companies, list and map all relevant highways and utilities organisations and points of contact, and host a workshop specifically for utilities companies and highways contractors to share the outcomes of this Strategy and BDC's plans for the next 5 years.

BDC to work with and set guidelines for tree care professionals and other small scale green industry starting by creating an internal list for BDC colleagues of representatives and contact details for each relevant organisation.