Location: South Kesteven, Lincolnshire
South Kesteven’s Trees & Woodland Strategy 2024-2034: Strengthening The Urban Forest
South Kesteven’s landscape is predominantly one of open fields and neat hedgerows, with just 10% tree cover. With the vision to improve the size, health and resilience of its tree population, the District has developed a comprehensive Trees and Woodland Strategy and accompanying Action Plan. These outline South Kesteven’s long-term vision and goals for managing and enhancing the trees and green spaces across the District, along with actions needed to achieve these.
Building the Strategy
The Strategy document aims to incorporate all aspects of management which affect trees and woodlands, by splitting targets into three key areas: Tree and Woodland Structure, Community Framework, and Sustainable Resource Management. Using this approach, the Strategy will guide the development of a sustainable urban forest by changing the social, environmental, and economic approach to long-term planning and management of South Kesteven’s green resources.
The engagement of stakeholders (including parish councils, landholders, and the Woodland Trust) formed a critical part of the construction of the Strategy. Furthermore, a public consultation attracted around 900 respondents, and was successful in drawing huge support from the local community, highlighting the importance of empowering communities.
The overwhelming response from residents really demonstrates the importance of enhancing, protecting and expanding tree cover throughout the District.
An Evidence-Based Approach
Local data, scientific studies, and best practice guidance, underpin the targets in the Strategy. Prior to the workshops, a review of relevant international, national, and local corporate policies was undertaken. A Tree Canopy Study was also completed, and a map of the hedgerows across the district was drawn.
This approach generated actions specifically geared towards South Kesteven’s landscape and tree population, as well as actions aimed at filling in data gaps, for example, by expanding the Council’s tree inventory, understanding the tree population on private property, and gathering information on woodlands and hedgerows across the District.
A Plan of Action
An Action Plan accompanied the Strategy document, detailing the Key Performance Indicators for each of the targets in the Strategy. It also presented the first steps towards achieving the next level of each.
Following consultation with stakeholders and the internal working group, each target was given a priority. This helped guide the allocation of resources and the management of targets in a structured and effective manner.
Moving forward
The Strategy and Action Plan have provided a way for the District to advocate for funding, change the way trees are seen and approached in development, and kick-start a new wave of environmental action.
Since the Strategy was published, SKDC has launched a new biodiversity & rewilding scheme, ‘Make Space For Nature’.
Download the report here.
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