Online map launched to show Surrey’s tree planting

Surrey County Council has launched an online map to show the location of trees and hedges planted in Surrey as part of their 1.2 million trees initiative.

Launched in 2019, the campaign aims to facilitate the planting of 1.2 million trees in Surrey, one for every resident, by 2030 and supports the council’s aim to be net carbon zero by 2050. Since the launch of the initiative, over 40,000 trees and 6,000 hedge plants have been planted in Surrey.

The new online map aims to track progress of the campaign by showing residents where trees and hedges have been planted within the county. The interactive tool shows the location and quantity planted, along with additional information such as who planted the tree, the species of tree and the date of planting.

Natalie Bramhall, Surrey County Councillor Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said, “Trees bring a fantastic range of benefits to local communities, from absorbing carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate flooding, reducing noise pollution and providing a habitat for wildlife. Over the past year, we’ve invested £100,000 in planting new trees for the benefit of Surrey residents and I look forward to seeing this brilliant initiative continuing.”

Surrey County Council is working with partners across the county to achieve their goal. This includes working with districts and boroughs as well as nature organisations such as the Woodland Trust, and schools and businesses.

Tree planting season runs from October to March, weather dependent, and to launch the most recent season, the council worked with schools to encourage children to plant trees.

Throughout National Tree Week last December, 265 trees and 224 hedge packs were sent to 91 schools across the county. Tony Mould, Forest School Leader at Audley Primary School, Caterham said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to learn about trees, empowering them to make a difference and become custodians of our school grounds.”

A number of trees have been planted at the request of members of the public, with commitment given by individuals and communities to look after the trees in the initial stages, including watering during the warmer summer months. Building on the successes and benefits achieved by this partnership, we will be asking residents to identify further opportunities for shaping and delivering our programme.

You can see the online tree map here. If you want to get involved in tree planting next season, please keep an eye on the website, which will be updated with more details on a regular basis.