Trees are under pressure from Climate Change

Trees in Telford & Wrekin are facing growing pressure from climate change, disease, global trade and travel, councillors have been told.

At a council environment scrutiny meeting, officials said the local nature recovery strategy aims to strengthen habitats across Shropshire, but rising tree disease is making the work harder.

Council officer Alan Preece said the authority was “trying to create the most robust habitats possible”, but added that “climate change makes that much more challenging”.

“We don’t know which way to jump because we don’t know what the next disease will be,” he said.

Councillor Carolyn Healy said the council’s two tree officers were receiving extra support to remove unsafe trees, carry out surveys and manage risks. She said the authority was planting a “good mix of native and non-native trees”, including species from southern Europe that are “better able to withstand drier, hotter summers”.

The council, which has received Tree Cities of the World recognition, said it aims to plant more trees than are lost to storms.