Manchester City Council has secured funding of £560,000 to further help its tree planting push take root across the city.
This landmark initiative, backed by the Forestry Commission’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund (UTC), will significantly enhance green spaces, improve air quality, and support the city’s environmental goals.
The latest award takes the total funding secured by the Council for tree planting since 2020 to £1.8m, including its own £1m Tree Action MCR programme.
The tree planting will unfold in two phases, beginning with a £4,000 investment from Trees for Climate to plant seven ornamental trees in Parrs Wood Open Space, Didsbury East. These trees will not only enhance the greenery of the area for visitors, including dog walkers and nature enthusiasts, but also promote local wildlife.
This compliments the already extensive planting though the Tree Action MCR Programme, which has turned £1million investment into nearly £1.5 Million in total on tree planting across the City from 2020.
This will lead to an unprecedented increase in the number of Council managed highway trees with the 4,200 new trees in these areas increasing numbers by over 16%.
One notable challenge being addressed is the tree planting in locations with hard surfaces areas, such as Cheetham Hill Road, where trees are typically more difficult to establish. Identified as one of the parts of the city with the lowest tree cover, this area will benefit from new trees that promise to make a visible and lasting impact on the local community.
This project is a vital part of Manchester’s wider efforts to become a zero-carbon city. The benefits of these new trees are far-reaching: they will capture and store carbon, clean the air by removing pollutants, reduce flooding risks, moderate temperatures and enhance biodiversity.
Over the next two years, the UTCF grant will help purchase, plant, and maintain trees which will create a greener, healthier environment for all Mancunians.
Councillor Tracy Rawlins, Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport, said: “Planting trees is crucial to achieving Manchester’s zero-carbon goals and creating a healthier, greener city for future generations. With the support of this funding, we are not only enhancing our green spaces and improving air quality, but we are also providing significant environmental and community benefits. From boosting local biodiversity such as promoting wildlife, this initiative will make a lasting impact across Manchester, especially in areas that need it most.”