City Council successful in its bid to bring even greater tree canopy cover to areas of MK.
Milton Keynes is set to become an even greener place to live and work after the council’s success in securing Government funding to plant 6000 trees around the city.
The council has secured £325,000 from the Forestry Commission’s ‘Treescapes Fund’ which it will use to plant native trees such as oak, hawthorn and birch in locations that most need them. There are plans also, to develop ‘forest gardens’ in several areas of MK.
Among the scheme are plans for ‘forest gardens’, where fruit trees are planted alongside vegetables and herbs in raised beds that communities can care for and benefit from. The council will involve local people in designing their forest garden providing workshops that will be announced shortly.
Areas that currently have the least canopy cover will be earmarked to get the new trees, including Bletchley, Bradville, Coffee Hall, Fishermead, Fullers Slade, Grange Farm, Netherfield, New Bradwell, Stacey Bushes and West Bletchley.
“Trees can give so much to communities and to the environment, and in the last year we’ve planted more than 2000 trees as part of our commitment to keep Milton Keynes a green, sustainable, and healthy city,” said Cllr Shanika Mahendran, Cabinet Member for Sustainability.
“Winter is our peak tree planting period, and we’ll act quickly to plant all the trees supported by this funding in time for spring,” added Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for the Public Realm. “We’ll also be out and about to involve local residents in designing a forest garden that they can help grow and enjoy for years to come.”
