Environment Committee writes to Mayor about managing London’s trees for a changing climate

The London Assembly Environment Committee has written to the Mayor about managing London’s trees for a changing climate. Recommendations in the letter include:

• Following the completion of research by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the GLA should publish clear, evidence-based tree species selection guidance, based on current and projected climate conditions in London. This should include guidance around structured aftercare (including watering, mulching and pruning).
• The GLA should work with the London Urban Forest Partnership to develop and publish an action plan with nurseries, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and trade representatives to identify priority climate-resilient species, and set agreed milestones to increase their commercial availability by 2035.
• To give nurseries greater certainty around future demand, the GLA should play a role in convening local authorities to consider pre-ordering climate resilient species and planning multi-year planting strategies.
• The GLA should provide innovation funding through the Green Roots Fund.
• The GLA should require annual updates on the survival status of funded trees and reasons for tree failure for at least the first five years post-planting. With the London Urban Forest Partnership, the GLA should work with boroughs and other stakeholders to collate and analyse London-wide data on types of trees planted and survival rates.
• The GLA, together with the London Urban Forest Partnership, should develop a working group to review the impact of tree-related insurance claims and develop recommendations to strengthen tree retention.