A community-driven tree planting project in Tranent has received nearly £79,000 from the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund provided by Future Woodlands Scotland (FWS).
The Tranent Tree Town scheme is being led by the charity Natural Connections in partnership with East Lothian Council.
Tranent currently has one of the lowest levels of tree cover in East Lothian.
The Urban Forestry Programme run by FWS aims to enhance urban areas across the country by increasing tree cover and green spaces. The programme focuses on the 3-30-300 rule whereby everyone should be able to see three trees from their home while every neighbourhood has a 30 per cent tree canopy cover and quality green space within 300 metres.
Natural Connections, which has developed The Heugh Community Garden in Tranent over the past nine years, will now lead local community groups and volunteers in the bid to plant at least 3000 trees/shrubs annually over the next three years.
The charity has 1000 trees ready to go at the Heugh Garden and plans to source more from the Woodland Trust. For the project’s future sustainability, it intends to establish a tree nursery to grow their own trees.
Benefit of people and wildlife
It is hoped Tranent Tree Town will create a model which can be rolled out across other communities in the county in need of greater urban tree canopy cover.
Following guidance from the council’s Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian, the project will work towards the 3-30-300 rule by fostering a network of smaller and underused open space sites for planting. This includes planting street trees, creating ‘pocket parks’ and civic frontages near locations such as libraries, care homes and medical practices, and identifying areas of greenspace within housing estates with potential for tree canopy expansion, in partnership with the council.
The planting will involve volunteers, including from Heugh Garden as well as local schools, groups and organisations. Residents will be encouraged to take part, and a project aim is to set up an ongoing ‘Tree Warden’ scheme.
Health and wellbeing
Russell McLarty, chair of Natural Connections, said: “The Tranent Tree Town project is a partnership project between Natural Connections charity and East Lothian Council. Tranent has some of the lowest tree cover in East Lothian and this funding will support us in planting more trees in residential areas, schools, and community spaces.
“Working together with other groups in the town, we aim to create nature corridors across town and increase biodiversity for the benefit of people and wildlife. We are delighted to be supported by the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund from Future Woodlands Scotland.”
Eamon John, the council’s Head of Communities & Partnerships, said: “East Lothian Council is proud to work in partnership with Natural Connections on this community-led, nature-based enhancement project in Tranent, to deliver climate, nature and health and wellbeing benefits locally.
“We are very grateful to Future Woodlands Scotland for the award of this funding, and we are looking forward to taking this project forward.”