Agenda item

Cabinet discussed proposals for locations for mini-woodlands around the district following an independent assessment. Thanet District Council had agreed a carbon reduction plan which laid out the steps the Council would take to reach net zero by 2030. Any emissions the Council was still producing in 2030 would need to be absorbed by carbon sequestration projects such as mini-woodland creation to reach net zero. The Council had investigated what land it owned that could be used for mini-woodland creation, to absorb these left over emissions. A total of 6 sites had been identified as suitable locations for the Mini-Woodland Tree Planting Scheme. The total size of the land to be used was 4 hectares, spread across the 6 locations.

There were funding opportunities available to the Council for progressing mini-woodlands but they often had short turnaround times to submit an application. In order to make these applications the Council needed to have confirmed the land being allocated for these projects. The proposed mini-woodland sites were as detailed below:

• Dane Valley Road;
• Garlinge Recreation Ground;
• Memorial Recreation Ground;
• Northdown Park;
• St Peter’s Recreation Ground;*
• Tivoli Park (0.5 hectares).

Site 1: Dane Valley Road This comprises two areas of plantable space. The proposed planting locations total 1.2 ha. It is currently a grassland buffer between agricultural and residential land.

Site 2: Garlinge The Garlinge site is situated in the eastern corner of Garlinge Recreation Ground, proposed planting totals 0.5 ha. It was currently open grassland, neighbouring several football pitches, and lent itself well to community engagement for planting.

Site 3: Memorial Recreation Ground This site has the potential to host 3 small mini-woodland planting areas, totalling 0.4 ha. It was situated in a high density residential area.

Site 4: Northdown Park Northdown Park could host 0.84 ha of mini-woodland across two planting areas. It was open space bordered by tree cover and interspersed with mature tree specimens.

Site 5: St. Peter’s Recreation Ground Planting at St. Peter’s Recreation Ground could cover 0.6 ha. The land was currently open green space bordered by existing tree cover. The larger compartment fell between private gardens and an existing row of trees.

Site 6: Tivoli Park This site was currently open green space. Mini-woodland creation here was designed to enhance the existing woodland on each side of existing service access. In total, it would create 0.5 ha of mini-woodland.

The Portfolio Holder recommended that cabinet approve that Council land in the following locations was used for Mini-Woodland Tree Planting Schemes, subject to external funding being identified and secured.

The following Councillors spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1:

Councillor Matterface;

Councillor Austin;

Councillor Kup.

*Members were asked to note an amendment to the report that St Peter’s Recreation Ground is in Beacon Road Ward and not St Peter’s Ward.

Councillor Albon proposed, Councillor Keen seconded and Cabinet approved that Council land in the following locations is used for Mini-Woodland Tree Planting Schemes, subject to external funding being identified and secured:

1. Dane Valley Road (1.2 hectares);

2. Garlinge Recreation Ground (0.5 hectares);

3. Memorial Recreation Ground (0.4 hectares);

4. Northdown Park (0.8 hectares);

5. St Peter’s Recreation Ground (0.6 hectares);

6. Tivoli Park (0.5 hectares).