ADAS Report: towns need trees

Citation

(2011), "ADAS Report: towns need trees", Structural Survey, Vol. 29 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2011.11029caa.015

ADAS Report: towns need trees

Article Type: Recent publications From: Structural Survey, Volume 29, Issue 3

Trees and green spaces in urban areas not only have great aesthetic and amenity value, but offer significant health benefits for the population and play an important role in promoting sustainable communities. ADAS was tasked by the Department for Communities and Local Government with conducting a national scientific survey of urban tree populations. This was carried out in a joint project with Myerscough College in Lancashire. Called “Trees in Towns II”, the survey was conducted upon similar guidelines to its predecessor carried out some 15 years earlier. The study was in two main parts. The first part was a detailed survey of 138,000 trees in 150 towns across England assessing both quality and quantity of existing specimens. The second part looked at the resource allocation and management strategies employed by Local Authorities towards tree populations across England. The report highlights a number of important trends and regional differences and will assist national and Local Government to formulate policy for managing the urban tree resource. Using case studies to demonstrate good and innovative practice, the report offers advice to Local Authorities on the future development of sound management policy, whilst also providing a detailed and scientific assessment of existing tree populations. The report is also being used to assist Local Authorities in the development of more successful planting policies which take into account future potential hazards such as flooding and climate change. The report is available at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/treesintownsii