Home / Environment / Swindon's Tree Cover Lags: Wardens Urgently Needed
Swindon's Tree Cover Lags: Wardens Urgently Needed
2 Sep
Summary
- Swindon's tree cover is only 8%, significantly below England's urban average of 18%.
- Volunteer wardens are urgently needed to plant and maintain local trees.
- The town aims to reach the national average tree cover within five years.
Volunteer wardens are urgently sought to increase Swindon's tree cover to the national average. The town currently boasts only 8% tree coverage, significantly lower than the urban England average of 18%. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has been training wardens for tree planting and maintenance, but a "deficiency" in volunteers is hindering progress.
Councillor Jake Chandler expressed a strong desire for Swindon to become a model for other urban areas in tree cover. Despite nearly one million trees being planted over the past five years through government-funded projects like Trees for Climate, the town remains below its target. The goal is to achieve the "magical 18%" tree canopy cover within the next two to five years.
