Nearly half a million granted to seed Clyde Climate Forest

Almost half a million pounds will be invested in a tree planting initiative across Glasgow in a bid to reduce climate change by 2032.

The Woodland Trust recently granted the Clyde Climate Forest £400,000 over the next two years to “kick-start” the project, due to being in June, and increase the number of woodland areas within the area by 20%.

This funding will provide for the recruitment of a small team to progress the objectives of the project in the initial couple of years, as well as some seed corn funding to facilitate the development of new planting schemes.

The aim of the Clyde Climate Forest is to enable and co-ordinate an approach that will deliver a major increase in tree planting across the GCR by 2032 as a response to the climate emergency.

It seeks to create worthwhile and well-considered tree planting projects which will deliver a broad range of ecological benefits to Glasgow and nearby areas.

The proposals follow the formation of the GCV Green Network Partnership (GCVGNP) in 2006 with the aim to make the Glasgow city region one of Europe’s most attractive places to live, work and play through the creation of a large functional green network.

In order to success a partnership between the region’s eight local authorities, including Glasgow City Council as well as Scottish Forestry, NatureScot, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Public Health Scotland and the Glasgow Centre for Population Health was created.

A programme board was then formed to provide oversight for the project which is co-chaired by the chief executives of East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire councils who represent the GCR (Glasgow City Region).

A steering group has also been established to provide direction and coordination for the project’s programme of work and is chaired by Scottish Forestry.

Glasgow City Region group is expected to welcome the development and approve the launch in June.

Story by local democracy reporter Catherine Hunter