Two new projects have seen trees planted in green spaces across Chesterfield – with an innovative planting style used to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.
Chesterfield Borough Council has received £50,000 of funding from the Coronation Living Heritage Fund which is being used to plant trees in a ‘Miyawaki’ style in parks across the borough. A further £50,000 has been granted by the Forestry Commission’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund to plant heavy standard trees in Highfield Park.
Miyawaki is a Japanese planting style where small trees are planted incredibly densely – this helps the trees establish faster and when fully grown creates micro-woodlands that will help boost biodiversity and create new habitats for wildlife.
Trees have been planted in this style in Pearson Park and Stubbing Road in Grangewood.
Miyawaki planting will take place on three further sites next year.
Heavy standard trees are supplied as larger trees, usually being around four meters tall which is more than double the size of trees usually planted by the council. These trees create a greater impact because of their size and will form a tree-lined boulevard through the park. Unfortunately, one of these trees has been snapped within two weeks of being planted but it will be replaced.
Further planting will take place in Highfield Park over the next two years as part of this project.
Councillor Jonathan Davies, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It’s fantastic that we have secured this funding. It is being used to enhance Chesterfield’s shared green spaces and tackle climate change.
“I’m particularly excited to see the Miyawaki woodlands develop. Miyawaki is an innovative planting method, and using it is a special way to celebrate the coronation.
“I’m also delighted that we will be planting new community orchards and small patches of woodland across the borough.
“Trees improve green spaces by supporting a wide array of wildlife. Trees also contribute to people’s wellbeing, and they make exercising in our parks a more attractive prospect.
“It is disappointing and frustrating, however, that some new trees have seemingly been deliberately damaged. We often plant trees with our volunteer tree wardens and local schools, so it is their hard work that is destroyed too. Instances of mindless vandalism also limit our ability to further improve green spaces for the community.”
Through its climate change strategy, the council is committed to planting at least 1,000 trees every year up to 2030.
Councillor Martin Stone, cabinet member for climate change, planning, and the environment, said: “We are committed to achieving our target of planting a minimum of 1,000 trees each year and it’s great that we will again beat target this year as we have planted more than 5,000 trees.
“Planting trees is a fantastic way of creating new habitats and absorbing carbon from our atmosphere. More established trees will help absorb carbon sooner and I’m pleased that we have been able to expand our tree planting schedule for this year by securing external funding. We’re continuing to identify places where we can plant more trees, delivering on our climate change commitments and enhancing our green spaces.”
The council has also been planting community orchards which include a range of fruit trees that, once established, can be harvested by local residents. These orchards are being planted in Poolsbrook, Loundsley Green, Whitecotes playing field and Monkey Park.
Through UK Shared Prosperity funding a further £10,000 has been provided to plant trees across the borough.
Community tree planting is just one initiative which is benefiting from funding through the UKSPF, after we were successful in securing £2.6m from the Government. It will fund initiatives up to April 2025, which are designed to improve life for local people and support local businesses.
Further tree planting will take place at green spaces across the borough in the autumn and next year.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer tree warden, please email: green.spaces@chesterfield.gov.uk
