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Leicester Tree Strategy Review

1. Promoting Amenity

Monitor the health of all of the council's trees

Measured by	Lead responsibility	Current position
Inspection and survey programme.	Trees and Woodlands Team	Schools, Highway, Housing and Parks tree stock inspections undertaken to identify works required to manage the health of the tree stock. 2022/23 - 285 surveys completed. This equates to 22% of all Leicester City Council sites with trees were surveyed (a total of 1,290 sites). Sites include 208 parks, 185 housing transects, 645 highway transects.
Continue to expand the council’s tree stock	Trees and woodlands team	Replacement planting of large trees has been undertaken in the highway, housing areas and parks & open spaces, along with new developments. 2022/23 - 412 large trees were planted. Examples: 80 Western Park 29 Saffron Lane 18 St George Street
Engage a team of volunteer Tree Wardens.	Leicester Environmental Volunteers	In partnership with The Tree Council, Leicester City Council now has a dedicated team of 28 Tree Wardens registered as a constituted group, trained to assess, and report issues and assist in tree planting and establishment (e.g. early identification of Ash dieback).

Maintain trees with the aim of reducing nuisance hazard and complaint

Measured by	Lead responsibility	Current position
Level of complaints.	Trees and Woodlands Team	No formal complaints received for 2022/23.
Tree inspection programme to identify and eliminate potential risk. Maintain inventory register for each tree on Ezytreev database.	Trees and Woodlands Team	Visual tree inspection regime as mentioned above: Sites inspection frequency is 3-7 years, based on potential risk depending on location. This identifies the condition and health of the tree stock and any impact the whole tree might provide in terms of nuisance, hazard and complaint. Typical examples are obstruction of highway / streetlamp, removal of deadwood, tree disease and potential tree failure, etc.
Aim for a larger proportion of available budget to be targeted on proactive and selective maintenance, rather than reactive emergency works.	Trees and Woodlands Team	Annual programme of works identified following site surveys with the aim of managing tree stock in a safe and healthy condition, and reduce the reliance on emergency reaction works. Reactive spend costs = £174,000 (28%) Proactive spend costs = £444,000 (72%)

Use a variety of species and cultivars

Measured by	Lead responsibility	Current position
Planting plans	Trees and Woodlands Team	Tree species are chosen for their suitability to the location where they are being planted, using a range of native trees whilst also recognising that non-native trees also have a place in the landscape. For example, Western Park used predominantly native tree stock, but non-native species were also planted where the location warranted this
Promote the wide selection of species and cultivars used at key parks	Parks & Open Spaces	Four tree trails are now in place, showcasing / promoting some of the city’s magnificent tree species. The trails are located at Abbey Park, Castle Hill Country Park, Humberstone Park and Western Park. Further Park tree trails will be added in 2024.

Reduce problems that can be associated with the presence of trees when making decisions about planting design and the positioning of trees in the landscape

Measured by	Lead responsibility	Current position
Right tree right place	Trees and Woodlands Team / Planning	Early engagement between planning team and developer as part of the design process to build in tree stock which provides appropriate amenity suitable for the location.

Purchase planting stock of good quality and prepare an underground environment that is conducive to good tree growth

Measured by	Lead responsibility	Current position
Procurement policy to ensure quality and scope of species.	Trees and Woodlands Team	Tender being developed for procurement to establish a framework contract for the supply of a range of species and cultivars to meet the needs of the council.
Successful establishment of heavy tree stock.	Trees and Woodlands Team	Preparation of tree pits with appropriate soil conditioner, drainage and irrigation system to ensure successful establishment. 2022/23 – 96% establishment rate. Any establishment failures are replanted within the following planting season. Higher losses than normally expected occurred due to exceptional Spring and Summer drought conditions.
Successful establishment of small tree stock (whips) Planted previous planting season.	Leicester Environmental Volunteers / Parks & Open Spaces	Preparation of planting site, correct planting technique for size of tree and use of appropriate shelters/tubes. 2022/23 – 72% establishment rate. Establishment failures are replanted within the following planting season. Higher losses than normally expected occurred due to exceptional Spring & Summer drought conditions.

Gallery Objective 2. Promoting habitat and wildlife