Tree planting 'to create valuable open spaces'
Monday, 6 December 2010 1:50 PM
Government plans to bring more green spaces to urban areas of Britain could boost local communities by creating neighbourhoods in which people want to live, an expert has said.
Euan Hall, chief executive of The Land Trust, was discussing the coalition's new initiative, which could see £4.2 million worth of trees planted in UK towns and cities.
He described the scheme, designed to improve urban areas over the next four years, as a good way to "improve our environmental quality".
The expert added, however, that consideration needed to be given to the long-term care and upkeep of the newly-created spaces.
"Even the most basic piece of land needs some form of management. If outdoor areas are not managed correctly, they run the risk of falling into disrepair," he explained.
Hall added: "The land can then become detrimental to the community, attracting anti-social behaviour and deterring investment. Therefore, it can cost more in the long-run and trap the areas in a cycle of deprivation."
However, The Land Trust believes that a greater number of open spaces will "bring more than just the obvious environmental improvements".
"They bring economical value by attracting inward investment and creating a place where people want to live," explained Hall.
The government initiative, led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) aims to plant one million trees.
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