The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has partnered with the Woodland Trust to support local (parish and town) councils embed the principles of the Tree Charter.
As part of the partnership, NALC encouraged local councils to get involved in the first ever Tree Charter Day. With hundreds of events taking place on 24 December 2018 to celebrate the day.
Tree Charter Day takes place annually and celebrates the positive impact trees and woodland have on local communities.
Many local councils got involved this year, by hosting and attending events, and sharing how they have been embedding the principles of the charter.
Highlights included:
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Staveley Parish Council, Cumbria – campaign to turn their local woodland into an asset of community value, to give the community the opportunity to buy the woodland and save it from going into private ownership
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Leamington Town Council, Warwickshire – Ran a project, in partnership with Age UK and the local community, to revamp a local woodland area and make it accessible and help those with dementia find a safe space to relax in
Local councils can also become Local Council Charter Branches. There are currently over 250 Local Council Charter Branches which dedicate some of their council policies to planting, protecting and saving trees and woodland such as through its neighbourhood plan or through local projects.
Cllr Sue Baxter, chairman of NALC, said: “I am delighted to see so many local councils get involved in the first ever Tree Charter Day this year and hear of the fantastic work local councils are doing to embed the principles of the Tree Charter.
“The Tree Charter provides local councils with a fantastic opportunity to bring communities closer to their trees and woodland and we are encouraging local councils to get involved.
“NALC wants local councillors, council clerks and members to join the 137,000 others and sign the Tree Charter, to show their support for the charter’s principles.
NALC has produced a number of resources to help local councils get involved with the Tree Charter.