Greens launch campaign for Stoke-on-Trent to become a World Tree City.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we all relate to nature, with many people now recognizing it as being integral to their physical and emotional wellbeing.

North Staffordshire Green Party have responded to this by launching a campaign for Stoke-on-Trent to join the internationally recognized ‘Tree Cities of the World’ scheme.

In a letter sent to Councilor Carl Edwards, cabinet member for the environment, they write:
'The coronavirus crisis and the lockdown imposed in response have brought about a significant change in the public’s awareness and appreciation of green spaces. They are now, rightly, seen as integral to the maintenance physical and mental wellbeing'.

Adding that:
'As part of the responsibilities it accepted by declaring a climate emergency in July 2019 Stoke-on-Trent City Council needs to respond to this issue'.

The Tree Cities of the World scheme has its origins in a call for action to protect and develop urban trees issues at the 2018 World Forum on Urban Forests held in Mantova, Italy.

The official Tree Cities of the World website states that:
Urban forests help define a sense of place and well-being where people live, work, play, and learn. The Tree Cities of the World programme is an international effort to recognize cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated.

Adam Colclough, Campaign Coordinator for North Staffs Green Party said: ‘lockdown has reminded many of us just how important contact with nature is to our personal wellbeing, we want to carry that forward into the recovery period and the new normal that follows’.

To be accredited as a Tree City of the World applicants have to meet five core criteria, these are establishing a person or group with responsibility for trees, creating an accurate inventory or local tree resources, putting in place clear rules for managing urban forests, having an allocated budget for managing trees and celebrating trees and their role in the life of the city.

Achieving Tree City status brings a number of benefits including higher property values, lower energy costs and stronger social cohesion. Participation in the Tree Cities of the World programme has also been shown to improve how people feel about the place in which they live.

Cities from around the world have achieved accreditation as part of the programme including six in the United Kingdom, amongst these is West Midlands neighbour Birmingham.

Adam Colclough said: ‘becoming a Tree City of the World will help to market Stoke-on-Trent as a great place to live and work, more importantly it will help to address some of the public health problems that have held us back for so long.’