New Year sponsored tree planting at Itchen Valley back for a third year

Residents have the exciting chance to sponsor and plant a tree at Itchen Valley Country Park in the New Year as part of the Council’s Plant Eastleigh campaign, to help improve biodiversity and tackle climate change.

Local people and groups up to five can come along and plant a tree for £10 on one of three tree planting days to be held at Itchen Valley Country Park on 13, 27 January and 10 February 2024. Residents can also simply sponsor a tree and a staff member will plant it on their behalf.

The trees are whips (young, single stem trees) from the Council-run tree nursery in Horton Heath. They will be planted alongside others to expand an area of native woodland, providing habitats for local wildlife.

Plant Eastleigh is our drive for residents, businesses, and community organisations to plant 160,000 more trees in Eastleigh Borough by 2030. The project contributes to the England Trees Action Plan, which the Government has launched to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change.  

Cabinet Lead for Environment Cllr, Rupert Kyrle said, “I’m pleased to see this popular initiative return for a third year. Local people have really enjoyed planting trees in previous years.  We aim to have 160,000 more trees in the Borough by the year 2030 and tree planting days like these are just one way we want to achieve this.” 

In 2019, the Council declared a climate and environmental emergency, and in response, a borough-wide tree planting initiative was announced in 2020. Planting significant numbers of trees is a key part of the Councils plans to help the Borough reach carbon neutrality by the year 2030 and bolster biodiversity in the area.

To find out more and to book your place on a planting day, visit www.planteastleigh.co.uk