PLANS are being drawn up for more trees to be planted in Wellington over the coming years as part of the town council’s support for the environment.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s environment committee were most impressed on September 18 when open spaces manager Darren Hill went into detail about the development of a tree plan.

Mr Hill and the council’s climate change project officer, Stephen Tate, have been looking at increasing the number of trees in the town which will lead to canopy cover in the years ahead to offer shade to people.

The officers will also be looking to get the public involved by hosting an “adopt a tree” scheme.

Councillors were told that the strategy would be divided into three stages with the first part earmarked for this current 2024/25 financial year.

It will be looking to get schools involved in planting trees at six sites in Wellington, while more trees will be planted in areas already owned by Wellington Town Council and Somerset Council.

Mr Hill said the town centre would not be ignored and saplings would be planted in special planters and act as a nursery.

Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “This plan and strategy have been put together very well and I am all in favour of it.”

Schools will be asked to help with Tiny Forest plans with tree packs supplied by the Woodland Trust with sites identified at the Priory Play Area, Howard’s Road, Oakfield Park, Burrough Way, Court Fields School and the Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary School. Each of those areas will have 105 young trees planted in an area the size of a tennis court.

Other areas being lined-up for larger trees are at the Chestnut Close Play Area, Monmouth Gardens in North Street, Popham Sheltered Housing in Victoria Street, areas of Gay Close and the Priory Play Area. 

Meanwhile, it looks as if a Wellingtonia in Linden Field will be dug up and replanted in the middle of the Longforth roundabout.

Councillors agreed to move forward with stage one of the tree plan at a cost of £5,668.