Articles

1,200 New Trees and a Wildflower Meadow for ‘Green Lung Project’ at Digby Park

Date Posted: 9:28 AM on Thu, 27 February 2025

A major tree planting project at Digby Park, Mapperley, has now been completed, marking another step forward in Gedling Borough Council’s commitment to enhancing green spaces and tackling climate change.

The latest phase of the project, which commenced on 10th February, has seen over 1,200 new trees planted at the site, supported by Defra with a grant through the Trees for Climate grant, administered by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Greenwood Community Forest. The grant, totalling £34,416, also includes ongoing maintenance to ensure the long-term health of the newly planted trees.

In addition to the tree planting, the project will also see the creation of a wildflower meadow, due to be completed in late spring. The meadow will provide vital habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, further enhancing biodiversity within the park.

Councillor Viv McCrossen, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Natural Habitat, visited the site alongside Gedling Borough Council’s Director of Operations, Sarah Troman, to see the development first-hand. She said:

"We are incredibly proud to continue expanding and enhancing Digby Park’s green spaces with the addition of more than 1,200 trees and a beautiful new wildflower meadow. This project is a fantastic example of how we are delivering on our commitment to reducing the borough’s carbon footprint and improving biodiversity. The support from the Trees for Climate grant has been invaluable in helping us to create a greener, healthier environment for both people and wildlife to enjoy for generations to come."

This initiative builds on the original tree trail, launched during National Tree Week, which saw over 500 trees planted and new park features introduced, including benches, improved drainage, and QR-coded plaques providing information about different tree species.

The expansion of tree planting at Digby Park aligns with Gedling Borough Council’s wider Carbon Management Strategy, which aims to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint and take action in the fight against climate change. It also contributes to the Government’s broader environmental goals, including the target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Trees play a key role in this strategy, with Defra working towards the Environmental Act’s target of halting nature’s decline by 2030 and increasing tree canopy cover in England to 16.5% by 2050. The Trees for Climate grant is funded through Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund, which supports large-scale tree planting projects to help meet these ambitious environmental goals.