THOUSANDS of trees will be planted at green spaces across Colchester next year as part of the council's plans to tackle the climate emergency.

Colchester Council is set to plant about 10,000 trees in 2021, with ten public planting events scheduled to take place in January and February.

The authority has also widened the remit of its Colchester Woodland and Biodiversity Project, which will restart in January.

This means as well as tree planting, with 200,000 set to be planted in the borough over the next few years, it now also focuses on wilding green spaces.

The project has seen the grass-cutting regime changed in areas such as Castle Park in a bid to help wildflowers grow, whilst Glyphosate based weedkillers have been phased out of use by council staff.

David King, councillor responsible for business and resources, said: "Trees and woodlands are a vital part of our eco-system.

"We are committed to preserving them, helping them to flourish and planting thousands more each year.

"We will do so sensitive to location and landscape, listening to residents as we go, and focusing also on wider biodiversity, from wildflowers to the needs of insects. All parts of the Colchester Woodland and Biodiversity Project.

“We will make our borough even greener, and we will help our community to know, love and use our green spaces, while being aware and benefitting from the environmental, health and well-being benefits they bring.

“We want businesses, residents, community groups and schools to get involved in every aspect of the project, including joining us as we plant trees across the borough. Our hope is to build a voluntary network to help plant and maintain the trees for a greener future.”

The public planting events are now open for the public to sign up to attend.

To help meet social distancing guidelines, a timeslot must be booked in advance.

Martin Goss, councillor responsible for waste and environment, said: “The Colchester Woodland and Biodiversity Project is a fundamental part of our pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030.

"The work that has already taken place in the first year of the project is just fantastic and expanding our work to focus on helping biodiversity to flourish alongside tree planting is vitally important.

“I am delighted that we are able to continue to involve the public in our tree planting activity this year.

"Getting active to not only enjoy our green spaces, but to help them develop and grow, is great for our mental health and wellbeing, and in these challenging times that has never been more important.”

The public planting events are:

  • Riverside Walk - Saturday, January 9 - 200 trees
  • Spring Lane Park - January 16 and 20 - 2,000 trees
  • Bergholt Road Open Space - Saturday, January - 1,000 trees
  • Community Orchard, next to Colchester Cemetery extension facing Valentinus Crescent - Wednesday January, 27 - 30 fruit trees
  • Lexden Recreation Ground - Wednesday, February 3 - 1,000 trees
  • Greenstead Slopes Open Space - February 10 and 13 - 2,000 trees
  • Pondfield Open Space - February 20 and 24 - 2,000 trees

Once registered people will be contacted with information about the day, and everything they need to know to come along and get planting.

In addition to the public planting events, further trees will be planted at High Woods Country Park and Cymbeline Meadows.

To keep up to date with the project and register for one of the planting sessions visit colchester.gov.uk/better-colchester/colchesterwoodlandbiodiversity.