Devon council trees strategy to combat nature emergency

Plan to increase tree canopy cover

A council in Devon has launched a strategy aimed at enhancing biodiversity and expanding tree cover.

East Devon District Council's tree, hedge and woodland strategy intends to help tackle the nature emergency that it declared in 2023. 

About a fifth (22 per cent) of East Devon has a tree canopy cover – the area of land that is shaded by trees – which is above the national average.

The council says it is determined to increase this figure to 30 per cent by 2035, and has outlined priorities and actions to conserve existing trees and improve canopy cover. 

The plan also aims to enhance biodiversity – the variety of life on earth at all levels – by improving the connectivity of different habitats across the district through tree and hedge planting.

East Devon District Council was the first district in England to have beavers recorded living in the wild since their extermination in 1789.

The strategy also focuses on promoting the beaver population and will only move to intervene in beaver activity through a licensed officer when there is a threat to life, property or businesses, and when no alternative solution is available.

James Chubb, countryside manager, said: “Beavers have a particular relationship with East Devon’s trees, and it would be remiss to exclude them from this important document.

“As set out in the strategy, the council is committed to promoting beaver populations through best practice for landscape management, appropriate licensing and partnerships with landowners and the East Devon Beaver Management Group, and I am excited to see the strategy inform and support a thriving beaver population in the district.”