£50,000 investment announced for tree planting in RCT

An investment of £50,000 has been allocated to tree planting across Rhondda Cynon Taf as part of its commitment to tackle Climate Change and to create a more resilient Wales as part of the well-being and future generation act.

Trees are vital and release oxygen which we need for our life. As the biggest plants on the planet, they store carbon, stabilise the soil and give life to the world’s wildlife.

Thanks to the investment over 600, small, sapling, hedge row trees will be planted in the coming weeks across the County Borough – 200 in Rhondda, 200 in Cynon and 200 in Taf. These trees have been chosen as they are all native to the area and local province.

The groups of trees will be planted in parks and open spaces that are not biodiversity areas or wildflower areas.

The COP26 in 2021, made people STOP and THINK about Climate Change and Rhondda Cynon Taf has been continuing to demonstrate its on-going commitment by raising awareness through its THINK Climate RCT campaign.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and is making good progress – A recent Carbon Trust report was undertaken, which highlighted (based on accurate calculation at the time) that as a Council, RCT reduced its overall NET carbon footprint by 29% in 2020/21, compared to data from 2019/20.

Councillor Rhys Lewis, Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Communities, and Chair of the Climate Change Steering Group, said:

“As a Council we are committed to investing in our green spaces and to delivering natural carbon storage solutions such as those provided by trees, peat bogs, marshy grassland and other natural habitats across the County Borough to enhance air quality and reduce the impact of greenhouse gasses.

“Through the work of Council officers and the decisions made in the Climate Change Steering Group, we hope that we can make a real difference not just locally, but globally. Every simple change that we all make will make a big difference in our plan to become a Carbon Neutral Council and County Borough by 2030.”

Councillor Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure & Heritage Services, and Vice Chair of the Climate Change Steering Group, added:

“I am delighted to see us moving forward and continuing to make a difference as a County Borough we can all make a collective difference by stopping and thinking about the things we can all do to stop Climate Change – from turning off the tap, when brushing your teeth, recycling as much as possible, to walking more, we can and must all play our part. We are lucky to have some amazing open spaces in RCT and we must nurture and look after them. The latest funding allocation will not only enhance our open spaces, but breath life into the communities that surrounds them.”

The latest investment is in addition to the trees that were planted as part of the RCT Local Nature Partnership (LNP) which secured an investment of over £232,000 to include the following work:

• Enhance nature on at least 70 hectares of wildflower meadow, wetland, open space and grass verges incl. 10 ha of grassland, much of which is small, urban or roadside grassland spaces which are more difficult to access by traditional machinery.
• 350 trees planted.
• 120 hectares of wildflower grassland now managed.
• Green Roof Classrooms; delivering up to 8 Green roof classrooms on school sites with little or no access to nature.
• Let Nature Grow; Community growing area in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park and a cut and collect machine to expand on last year’s project.

This Fund has played a major role in enabling RCT to deliver its wildflower grass management policy. Over 300 trees were also purchased and planted, across the County Borough in parks, cemeteries and recreation grounds in 2020.