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Priority 7: Use tree planting, pollinator sites, wetlands, wildflower meadows and other natural measures to capture and store carbon

Trees and our natural environment have a key role to play in reducing our carbon footprint. When eco systems are joined up and work as they are supposed to, they have the potential to capture significant amounts of carbon. They also provide a host of other environmental benefits that can alleviate some of the other impacts of climate change, such as flash flooding, drought, etc.

However, much of the potential of these systems has been disrupted by human activity. As part of our plan, we have an opportunity to repair some of this damage.

Worcestershire County Council, together with partners including Malvern Hills District Council, is working on a Nature Recovery Map which will set out the best places to create different types of habitat (woodland, wetland, grassland etc).

It is important to start this process as soon as possible as the more we delay, the more trees will need planting, the larger the habitat will need creating and the more it will cost.

Cost will be a significant barrier to meeting this priority as while some external funding is available to purchase trees and support schemes, they do not cover land purchase. Any new woodland planted will also need to be actively managed for many years to ensure that its carbon capture and storage potential is realised.

Depending on the type of habitat created and the type of land used, to offset 20,000 tonnes of Co2 by 2030 would need between 156 and 280 hectares of land, up to 246,000 trees and cost between £3 million and £5.6 million.

Without external funding Malvern Hills District Council is unlikely to be able to create all the natural habitats required to offset a significant proportion of the district’s emissions. We will therefore need to concentrate on working with partners and landowners and on smaller, affordable schemes that help offset emissions from our own operations.

We have already had 46 sites put forward by our parish and town council partners that could be used to develop natural carbon capture habitats and we have spoken to partners including the Woodland Trust, Malvern Community Forest and Malvern’s Marvellous Trees.