Decision details

Treevitalise Project : Woodland Trust's Emergency Tree Fund Grant

Decision Maker: Executive Director, Place

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

To seek approval to accept the £183,319 of funding from the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund following Sheffield City Council’s Community Forestry Team’s successful bid, and to deliver the Treevitalise Project.

Decision:

That the Executive Director:-

 

(a) approves the Council accepting the funding of £183,319 from the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund;

 

(b) approves the Treevitalise Sheffield project being delivered as outlined in the report; and

 

(c) approves the Council entering into a Grant Agreement with the Woodland Trust.

 

 

Reasons for the decision:

The funding helps us meet our actions in the Trees and Woodland Strategy around community engagement, volunteering, supporting “friends” groups and tree planting (Actions 7,8,10,11, and 18 - 24).

The people in Sheffield will have greater connection to their trees, through direct engagement via planting and other tree projects, and attendance at events and activities.

People will have had fun and have better mental and physical health as a result of being engaged with trees.

Sheffield will have a greater canopy cover as at least 3 hectares of new woodland or 15,000 trees will have been planted.

There will be increased biodiversity in woodland creation areas and wildlife corridors.

Flooding will be mitigated through planting in catchment areas or to intercept rainfall on hard surfaces.

Parks and Green Spaces will have a higher amenity value.

 

 

Alternative options considered:

Alternative option – Not accepting the funding.

 

Not accepting the funding would mean that Community Forestry has limited capacity to deliver woodland creation within the community and opportunities to further develop Sheffield’s reputation as a Green City would be lost.

 

 

Publication date: 11/03/2021

Date of decision: 10/03/2021

Effective from: 18/03/2021

Accompanying Documents: