One of the most annoying things that iritate residents is the cutting down or cutting back of trees.

Trees are one of the most effective ways of removing CO2 out of the atmosphere to tackle the climate crisis.

Bedford Borough Council has committed itself to being net carbon-neutral by 2030. The resources for looking after trees comes from your council tax.

A typical hardwood tree can absorb as much as 22 kg of carbon dioxide per year; this means that by the time a tree reaches 40 years old it will sequester approximately 900 kg of carbon dioxide.

Trees can help reduce ambient temperatures in urban areas by transpiring and providing shade, and can save up to 10% of the energy needed to heat and cool buildings.

Trees also release oxygen, and reduce soil erosion.

Trees can slow down the rate at which rainwater hits the ground and reduce the risk of flash flooding.

They are an essential element of biodiversity and mature trees support extremely valuable wildlife habitats.

In Bedford Borough there are over 26,000 trees, including highway trees and trees in parks and amenity spaces.

There are many more trees within country parks, woodlands and on other council-owned land and, of course, on private property.

Locally, we have the fantastic expertise of Forest of Marston Vale help work with the council.

From 2014 when the council were planting 103 trees per year, increased investment has occurred meaning that 560 trees were planted in 2019.

The tree team are always looking for grant funding to get more trees, and trees are only cut down after tree officers have used the QTRA (Quantified Tree Risk Assessment) method.

There is still more to do in relation to planting more trees, so more of the planets CO2 can be absorbed reducing climate change and meeting a net-zero target by 2030.

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