Trees - Introduction and Importance

Trees make an important contribution to the environment, creating a varied, interesting and attractive landscape. As well as helping to define the character of an area and a sense of place, they are also important for nature conservation and environmental quality reasons, including for wildlife and biodiversity, natural shade, micro-climate control and air quality. They also play an important role in public health and wellbeing. They may be individual street and garden trees, groupings of trees or larger woodlands and forests, both within the settlement boundaries and in the wider countryside area. In this regard, trees and woodland form part of our natural heritage and, in particular, woodlands are an important habitat type that will also be considered under the LDP natural heritage policy. Trees also improve the visual amenity of new developments, and help to provide habitats for wildlife in the urban area. Trees can help to create the green ecological linkages throughout the city and form a valuable element of the green and blue infrastructure network. The importance of trees is recognised in the SPPS, which states that trees and woodland form part of our natural heritage features and are worthy of protection. Some trees may be specifically protected through Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), conservation area designations and s76 planning agreements. Other wooded areas may be more generally protected through nature conservation designations. However, the council acknowledges the multi-functional importance of all trees and woodlands.